Teachers under the Uganda National Teachers Union-UNATU have today Wednesday started their industrial nationwide strike.
They declared a strike at all levels demanding equality and harmonization of the salary enhancement among teachers of different subjects, support staff, and school administrators.
This follows the government's decision to increase the salaries of science teachers up to 4 million shillings and disregard the art teachers.
At many primary and secondary schools there were no lessons taking place. In primary schools in Kampala and surrounding areas, some schools were open while others were closed.
Some learners were seen playing in the school compound while the classrooms remained closed. However, most learners did not know that the teachers were on strike.
At St Martin's Primary School Mulago, all the 21 teachers on the government payroll did not show up. The head teacher, Francis Girongo, says that the school is being run by seven private teachers.
According to Girongo, the school has been forced to reschedule midterm assessments since the seven teachers available cannot supervise them given the fact that every class has an average of three streams.
At St Joseph Primary School in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, some teachers snubbed the strike and were seen teaching while others did not enter the classrooms.
Jacob Kiyimba, one of the teachers says they will continue reporting to the school but will not teach learners.
Andrew Mugaya, a teacher says that UNATU leaders are fond of calling for strikes but later meet with the government officials and make deals that only benefit them as individuals. He says, for this reason, he and some other teachers do not want to take part in the strike.
In Greater Masaka, learners reported empty classrooms after their teachers failed to show up. At Nyendo Public Primary in Masaka City, out of the 14 teachers on the government payroll, only four had reported.
Francis Ssematimba, the UNATU Chairperson for Masaka City says that they asked all the teachers to keep away from schools.
“We delivered our letters to all the relevant local authorities and we presume that they are aware of the industrial action,” he says.
Mathias Male, the UNATU Chairperson in Sembabule District says his office is also delivering letters to the local authorities communicating the industrial action. He says that they don’t expect teachers to be coerced to teach before a compromise is reached with the government.
In Luwero town, there were mixed reactions to the strike. Some teachers were seen in classes while others opted to stay away. At Luwero Girls’ Primary School, only three out of 13 teachers turned up.
Aidah Ssebigajju the Headteacher of Luwero Girls Primary School says that she has since resolved to attend to some learners until the strike ends.
At North Road Primary School in Mbale City, one of the schools with the biggest enrollment, the 3,000 learners spent the morning seated in classrooms with no teachers in sight.
The school Headteacher Michael Wangwe said that out of the 48 teachers, 21 turned up, but did not teach. Wangwe said that he has decided to distribute learning materials to keep the pupils busy.
In Karamoja region, the learners were turned away by the teachers. Our reporter who visited some of the schools in Moroto Municipality found the teachers relaxing in their staff houses while some pupils were seen playing in the school compound.
At Soroti Secondary School in Soroti City, some teachers reported for duty because they were not aware of the strike.
Fred Damba, the Entebbe UNATU Branch Chairperson asked parents not to send their children to school on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education and Sports appealed to UNATU to suspend the industrial action to ensure that the teaching-learning process is not disrupted. Ministry officials noted that there are other avenues through, which the government and teachers can address the matter.
UNATU which maintains it is still open to talks with the government has also drafted a pay increase plan for all teachers and other employees.
According to their demands, secondary school head teachers should receive 10 Million Shillings, and primary school head teachers 4.5 million. The union is also pushing the government to pay 4.8 million Shillings to graduate science teachers and 4.5 million shillings to those teaching arts and humanities. They are also advocating for a Shillings 1.35 million minimum wage for primary school teachers.
