Kadaga roots for teachers’ housing

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has launched the National Teacher Policy and directed the relevant ministries to prioritise teachers’ accommodation in the new budget cycle.
The policy, among others, recognises the role of teachers in shaping the future generation and promotes the profession.

Ms Kadaga, who represented President Museveni at the World Teachers’ Day national celebrations in Kamuli District at the weekend, said staff accommodation was a big challenge, which affects performance.

“Education state minister (Mr Charles Bakabulindi), and your Permanent Secretary, in the new budget cycle, prioritise staff houses so that teachers can concentrate because both the teachers and pupils come late and none reprimands the other,” she said.

Ms Kadaga also advised teachers to rediscover and restore public confidence, trust and inspiration of the profession by serving children with passion and self-drive.

The Speaker told teachers to remain loyal to the principles of the policy, including professionalism, effectiveness, accountability, innovation, creativity and efficiency.

“We shall vehemently push for efficient and effective teacher management policies, proper teacher recruitment on merit and enabling environment for the restoration of the glory and dignity of the teaching profession,” Ms Kadaga said.

The Speaker also pledged to hold regular meetings between government and teachers when the House resumes on October 28.

In his speech read by Ms Kadaga, President Museveni commended the teachers for supporting government policies, including universal education and urged them to remain loyal.

“I congratulate and join you in celebrating and recognising the important contribution to the development of the nation. The nation is aware that all of us pass through your hands and understands the importance of your profession in nurturing human resource which is the most important factor in development,” Mr Museveni said.

“Government is fully involved in provision of education for all. You recall that in 1997, we initiated UPE which has registered tremendous success, brought in USE in 2007 which is doing very well and the strategy, therefore, is to produce a skilled literate population with a view to transform the society into a middle income class,” he added.

Teachers’ demand
Mr Filbert Baguma, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union general secretary, and Mr Usher Owere, the National Organisation of Trade Unions chairman general, urged government to honour the collective bargain agreement and castigated the selective salary enhancement.

“We demand that government implements the collective bargain agreement, a reform in the pension policy to enable teachers’ access 50 per cent of their gratuity at 45 years,” the teachers said.
They also decried the ‘sporadic’ and ‘erratic’ transfers, uncalled for deletions from the payroll, delayed appointments and promotions, among others.