Following the industrial action by the art teachers over discriminatory salary enhancement, Nakawa East Member of Parliament also the National unity Platform spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi has cautioned science teachers on what he called a premature victory over their salary increment.
Contrary to their counterparts, science teachers who had also laid down their tools, early this year due to poor remuneration, have been promised an increase of over 300% with a budget of over Shs 735Billion for the scientists in this financial year
Not receiving the expected reception, however, the volition has spiked off a lot of anxiety graduating the relationship between the two parties growing from bitter to sour as an accusation for failure to lobby for their members but rather subrogate their hard-earned privileged from the government have been fuelled
On the hand though, art teachers through their umbrella association, Uganda National Teachers Association (UNATU) have continued to uphold that their move was in no way targeting the science teachers but rather a breach of the agreement made between the government in 2018 which included an enhancement for all
Speaking at the party headquarters at Kamwoya, Ssenyonyi noted that science teachers needed to take hold of themselves as they could be barking up the wrong tree
He notes that while government can’t uphold or even account for the smallest promises they have made over the years, what would guarantee that they would uphold this that is just recent.
“It’s not the first time teachers have been promised salary enhancement, do you also remember the 2016 promise that all girls would receive free sanitary pads, we’re now in 2022,” Ssenyonyi said.
Moving on, however, the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has issued a directive that all Chief Administrative Officers delete all teachers still on strike come Friday 1
Nabbanja notes that well as teachers have a right to withdraw their service, the government need not close their schools forever and thus will follow the necessary procedure to create the much-needed solution so as to bridge the gaps
According to the Premiere, the industrial action was and continues to be in bad faith has started immediately after the budget reading on Wednesday 15, and also failed in the spirit of dialogue since all indicators continue to show the government’s inability to enhance all workers this financial year.
The Minister for ICT Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has also on several occasions emphasized that while the government was willing to enhance all public servants’ remuneration, the priority lies within the science sector which included all scientists
And just like the Minister, Aron Maugaiga the General Secretary of Uganda Professional Science Teachers Union an umbrella organization for all science teachers noted that they were also entitled to this portion of the money since they’re also regarded as scientists and that anymore who was not in line with their agenda was to be fought till the end
These advocated for salary enhancement, and the restoration of science head teachers and deputies’ professional allowance that were allegedly scrapped off in 2019
The Buganda Katiikiro Charles Peter Mayiga, however, urged that the government looked into the entire salary structure, eliminated the discriminatory enhancements, and debate the matters calmly as this will help maximize government productivity.
