Pupil collapses in school compound over ongoing teachers strike

A copy of the letter said to have been written by Hellen Athieno and submitted to the school administration before she collapsed. Photo by Joseph Omollo

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Teachers under their trade union on Monday entered the second week of their industrial action, protesting against government’s failure to honour its promise to pay them the 10 per cent installment of the 40 per cent salary increment.

Tororo. A primary seven pupil of Rock view School in Tororo municipality on Monday collapsed in the school compound after learning that teachers have refused to call off their strike.
The school head teacher Bernadette Olokojo said Hellen Athieno a 13-year-old P.7 pupil collapsed in the school compound after they (pupils) were asked to go back to their homes until an official communication is made to them.

According to Ms Olokojo the incident happened immediately after Athieno handed over her written letter to the administration requesting teachers to have a caring heart and resume teaching as they continue negotiating with government on their welfare.
“We gave her first aid as quickly as we could. Fortunately, she recovered to her normal senses. We really feel concerned about the children missing studies but we have nothing to do because most of the teachers have not shown up for lessons. Therefore, our hands are tied as administrators’’ Ms Olokojo said.
She added that pupils have written several letters to the school of which all of them are requesting teachers to voluntarily sacrifice to teach amidst the pain they are undergoing.

One of the letter read ‘’our dear teachers we join you in pursuit of your rights but how are you going to help us prepare for the national examinations, especially mocks and Primary Leaving Examinations which are knocking onto our doors?’’
Teachers under their trade union on Monday entered the second week of their industrial action, protesting against government’s failure to honour its promise to pay them the 10 per cent installment of the 40 per cent salary increment.

A meeting held on Monday morning between teachers and officials from the ministry of finance regarding their salary increment again hit a dead end.

The state minister for economic planning David Bahati urged teachers to return to work as government prepares a 12% salary increment in the 2016/2017 financial year. However, this has been rejected by the teachers.

The general secretary Uganda National Teachers union Mr James Tweheyo said they now want at least 5% increment this year and 15 % in the next financial year.

Tweheyo said teachers in government schools will not resume work until this is honoured.
Last Thursday, a meeting between the teachers’ representatives and government called to resolve the strike - which has paralysed learning especially in public primary schools - ended in a stalemate.