Government, teachers fail to agree on salary increment

KAMPALA- Teachers have said their strike is still on contrary to government’s claim that a deal was struck for the teachers to return to class and teach.

The teachers say they turned down a proposal by the government to increase salary by 15 per cent, up from their 10 per cent salary increment request, which would, however, be implemented in the 2016/17 Financial Year instead of 2015/16.

Through the Uganda National Teachers Union, (Unatu), the teachers said instead of waiting for two years for the 15 per cent, the government should advance them at least 5 per cent starting next financial year.

The government said it cannot do this because it has already prioritised some projects, such as roads and power plants.

“We are continuing with the strike. We will not go back to class unless our demands have been met,” Mr James Tweheyo, the Unatu general secretary told Daily Monitor after the meeting at the Finance ministry yesterday.

He added, “Our conditions are clear. They have promised they are going to consult further. We are open to talks but we will talk while at home.”

However, Mr Matia Kasaija, the minister of Finance, said the matter had been resolved. “We agreed with the leadership that we shall adjust the teachers’ salaries by 15 per cent in the 2016/17 Financial Year,” Mr Kasaija said on phone. “We hope they have Uganda at heart and will start teaching,” he added.

The government is under pressure, not just from teachers but also from civil society and pupils, to honour a pledge to increase teachers’ salaries by 10 per cent in 2015/16.

Last week, some Members of Parliament asked government to quickly resolve the matter because it is mainly the children from poor households, who attend public schools, who are most affected.

Some, however, said government officials, who can afford to send their children to private schools, were not serious about ending the strike.

Mr Tweheyo accused some Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) of threatening head teachers, but he added this will not deter their spirit as they are ready to fight on.

“Calling us to police can’t make us panic. Some head teachers are being threatened by RDCs but it is not a surprise. Let parents and children be patient. We are not going to deceive our parents that we are teaching when we are not teaching,” Mr Tweheyo explained.

Meanwhile, Daily Monitor visited some public schools within the city centre yesterday where a few students remained scattered in the school compound without being attended to.

Fewer teachers could be traced at the schools and classes remained closed. At some schools only administrators loitered in the compound.

Daily Monitor visited Buganda Road Primary School at around 10.30am where classes were locked up with no sign of any class activity. Children were seen gazing at the outsiders as others played within and outside the school gate.

The school authorities there declined to speak to Daily Monitor. At Nakivubo Blue Primary School, teachers staying within the school environs reportedly gave students work and went away. The situation was not any different from schools upcountry.

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