Teachers want retirement age revised

EDUCATION

Teachers under the their umbrella organisation, Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU) have asked the government to revise their retirement age from 60 to 50 years.

The pension retirement package, which teachers are entitled to, depends on the salary scale segment. For example, a grade III (3) teacher is on U7 salary scale, which has seven segments. The retirement package each earns depends on the numbers of  years he/she has served and the salaried segment which they have been earning.  

The call was made during the celebration of the World Teachers' Day held at Teachers' House along Bombo road in Kampala, recently, under the theme "Teacher: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future"

Speaking during the event, Zadock Tumuhimbise, National Chairperson UNATU, said, by cutting the retirement age, teachers will be able to retire when they are still strong, have sufficient time to attend to family, businesses and still be useful to their fields.

"A teacher is mandatorily supposed to retire from active service when he/she is 60-years-old. But you find that, by the time you reach 60 years, you are so exhausted, inactive and cannot enjoy your money because you will be worn out," he said.

Tumuhimbise adds: "We need to retire early enough so that we are able to build a house and enjoy staying in it but retiring when you cannot even lift a brick, stand on your feet to monitor the construction of your house, to prevent the stealing of cement at the site, there is no way you will enjoy your pension,".

Aisha Niwagira, a teacher at Kibuli Demonstration School said; "revising the retirement age will help teachers make good use of their money when they are still alive, think out of the box, and plan accordingly for productive projects,"

Muhammad Nsereko, Member of Parliament, Kampala Central, who was also the Chief Guest, asked Kampala Capital City Authority   (KCCA) to devise means and come up with extra allowance for teachers in Kampala so that they too can attend to their children's needs
"Teachers need extra allowance, just like doctors, through the taxes they pay. They contribute over shs30b in return. Why, then, not send some extra allowance of sh700,000 or sh1m to their salary," Nsereko said

He said, " a councilor who does not require a qualification is paid more than sh3m for representing 300 people in the council. Why then, not my teacher who teaches every single day, more than seven lessons and dedicates their hours from 8:00 am to 5:00pm and even goes an extra mile to mark examination papers at night,"

Stephen Mbasani, Treasurer UNATU also cited that government should provide teachers with accommodation at schools to prevent them from trekking long distances."Teachers have been at home for six months, and by all means, many of us have defaulted rent.

The issue of accommodation should be looked into for a better teaching environment for our students because once a teacher is tired after walking a long-distance, they cannot teach their students well," Mbasani said.

Vincent Wamboka, Chairman UNATU Kampala Central said there is a need to recognise and appreciate the teachers' outstanding contribution to nation-building and promotion of quality public education.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to reality the fact that we do not pay teachers enough for the work that they do. The continuous request for better teacher remuneration and working conditions is very genuine and, therefore, requires urgent action," he said