‘Government can’t force us to teach’

Teachers’ salary demands. James Tweheyo is the secretary general of Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu), which is leading the teachers’ strike that seeks a 20 per cent salary rise. Wilber Muhwezi interviewed Mr Tweheyo about the planned teachers’ strike, its impact and reintroduction of cost-sharing in primary schools. Excerpts:

What will happen if the government does not give the 20 per cent salary increment by Monday and opts to force teachers back to class as it did last time?
Force doesn’t apply when giving knowledge. Forcing teachers to class will not force knowledge out of the teachers to pupils’ heads. The strike will take different forms. We shall even refuse to give tests and exams if government forces us back to teach.

In private schools, the minimum pay is Shs150,000, in government schools the beginning pay for teachers is Shs317,000. But private schools teachers produce more first grades than you?
I don’t agree with you mainly in the secondary education section. Government teachers produce better results but in primary education, I partly agree with your question. However, these private schools are strategically set up by people, mainly in government, and well-connected Ugandans. Government officials use government teachers to teach part-time in their private schools. Private school owners hide pay because they want to avoid taxes. I blame government for giving a big load and number of pupils above 55 per class. Teachers in eight districts have not received salaries for August so how do you expect them to perform?

Some teachers are drunkards and are often absent. People say you are demanding a pay rise but you are not doing your job?
There is no supervision, the district inspectorates of schools are as incapacitated as the teachers they supervise. They neither have fuel nor allowances to be able to reach out to these teachers and schools. It’s just a mess.

Why do you normally stage strikes after budgets have been read when it is difficult for government to allocate more money?
We started this campaign two years ago. We wrote to the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget Mr Tim Lwanga. We talked to every official concerned. Therefore, the claim that we have started late is not true. The 2013/2014 Budget should have addressed our demands.

According to professional ethics, teachers are not supposed to strike?
We gave a 90-day notice and we have negotiated. We are advised while undergoing training to solve problems through negotiations but the worst has come to worst and we have decided to strike.

You were an NRM supporter and even contested in the party primaries to represent Mbarara Municipality in Parliament in 2011. People say you are just disgruntled?
I am still a sympathiser of the ruling party. However, the children are non-partisan. We shall not sacrifice them at the altar. When I am teaching, I don’t mind about a child’s tribe, religion etc. It is not true that I am fighting my personal wars. I am fighting for the teachers and it’s the mandate I was given by the teachers of Uganda.

Who will participate in the Monday strike because before it’s only primary school teachers who have been involved in your strikes?
It’s for all the teachers: National teachers colleges, technical colleges, primary school teachers as well as secondary schools and technical institutes teachers.

Don’t you think this strike is being staged at a wrong time when candidate classes are going to sit for national examinations and other students are going to higher classes?
To me as a professional teacher, every time in the learning cycle is crucial. Even in every other term, you are preparing children for exams and tests. Therefore, the timing is a non-issue. We don’t believe in strikes but we have been forced into them as a last resort.

Does the Monday strike have a time frame when it will be called off if government does not give the salary increment?
No. It will go on until the money is paid to us and it will take different forms depending on the circumstances. I can’t mention them to the media now.

Do you support reintroduction of cost-sharing in schools specifically primary ones so that money generated is used to top up teachers’ salaries?
Cost-sharing is already taking place now. Parents are giving uniforms, food and some little money but I would not support reintroduction of full scale cost-sharing. The fact is government is not doing its job. The government is not financially constrained at all. When the Auditor General audited 40 per cent of the government payroll, he identified 70,000 ghost staff. This totals to Shs11 billion and when he audits 100 per cent of the payroll, about Shs40 billion will be seen. If we laymen can identify the money, what about the technocrats? Last month, Nile Breweries opened a beer plant in Mbarara Town and according to our own findings, Shs185 billion in taxes will be paid to the government this financial year only. We only need Shs130 billion for the salary increment. If government was willing, the money would be found.

So who is failing you?
I can’t blame individuals but I blame Public Service, Ministry of Education and Local governments that manage us.

What is your reaction to minister Alupo’s statements on Tuesday to force you to teach on Monday?
The job for looking for money to pay teachers is easier than forcing them to work. And when she does so, she should expect no quality work. I advise her to resign in case she thinks this is the best option to solve teachers’ problems.

What is your last word?
I call upon all the responsible power centres to do their duty for the sake of the children and the government should honour its obligations.