The Buganda Kingdom Premier Katikkiro of Charles Peter Mayiga has appealed to the government to give equitable pay to both Arts and Science teachers in order to solve the current strike in schools.
He sounded the advice while addressing the Buganda Lukiiko on Monday. Owk. Mayiga said that Arts teachers are equally important to the nation as those of Sciences since professions in the different fields of study complement each other.
The Katikkiro noted that when Scientists develop medicines, they need people like Accountants, marketers, human resource managers and other people from professions under the Arts.
Mayiga said that as a matter of urgency, the government needs to start a process of addressing the huge disparities in the existing government salary structures. He said that this will help solve the rampant strikes by civil servants who receive different pay yet are at the same level.
His statement comes at a time when classes at different schools remain under lock and key despite the government pressure on teachers to return to class or risk losing their jobs.
Teachers under the Uganda National Teachers Union laid down their tools to compel the government to give them equitable pay across the board. The strike continues despite threats from different government officials to scrap the teachers off the payroll unless they return to class.
In a circular addressed to teachers last week, Catherine Bitarakwate, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service gave the striking teachers an ultimatum to return to duty in two days or resign from duty.
According to Bitarakwate, teachers who would abscond from duty after the two days would automatically be considered absent and risk being scrapped off the payroll. She asked Chief Administrative Officers and town clerks to carry out inspections and take note of the teachers who are absent.
