Vincent Elong, the National Chairperson of the Uganda Professional Science Teachers Union (UPSTU) has called upon government to consider teachers as key stakeholders in any decision-making regarding education in the country.
“Some of the changes in education are done by people at the National Curriculum Development Center and in many cases, those people are not in classrooms which causes certain gaps in the sector,” Elong highlighted.
Confident Elong also noted that UPSTU is a union that can be consulted and through our structures, it is able to give a better input that can transform this nation.
Speaking to Journalists in Kampala on the National Teachers Day celebrated on October 5, Elong also called upon government and other stakeholders to respect teachers because there is nobody in life that has ever succeeded without a teacher behind his success story.
With the theme of the National Teachers Day this year being “The Transformation of Education begins with Teachers” Elong also called upon investing in teachers because it is the quality of teachers that is key to the skilling of learners.
“We appeal to government to come up with a budget and make sure that teachers are highly supported such that they can also support Ugandan children” he added.
Elong, however, revealed that though at the beginning of the year their salary was enhanced, in April it was taken away but they later engaged the president who finally listened to their grant and enhanced the salaries of all science teachers in the country.
“We can confirm that the salaries of science teachers have been enhanced and those that missed out on the enhancement we are trying to correct it, we call upon those still affected to rise their complaints to the Union” he added.
Aron Mugaiga the General Secretary of UPSTU congratulated all teachers upon reaching this day because they play a significant role in transforming education and providing quality education services.
“In building a quality teacher, we believe as UPSTU that we need teachers that are financially empowered, healthy, and able to transform a transition” he highlighted.
Mugaiga noted that at UPSTU they believe that developing the ability amongst science teachers to control capital will give them the power to rise above poverty that has tormented the teaching fraternity for quite a long time and this is why they have opened up a Sacco which they confirm that will act as a vehicle that will lead science teachers to financial independence.
“I call upon all science teachers, laboratory technicians TUVET instructors NTC and PTC science lectures and tutors to sign up and become members of this Sacco today because we believe that it is the answer to all the teachers’ poverty queries” Mugaiga added.
The General Secretary also unveiled the “Science and Technology House” project that has been approved by the UPSTU Executive Council and called upon all well-wishers and stakeholders to support it because upon completion it will house the headquarters of the union and also have room for science exhibition for learners across the country.
Established by UNESCO in 1994, National Teachers Day is a special day celebrated every year on October 5, to appreciate and celebrate teachers for their contributions to educating the masses.
In her remarks for the Teachers Day, Hon. Janet Museveni the Minister for Education and Sports commended the teachers for the selfless efforts put into educating the nation but however noted that government shall hold the national celebrations for this year in November.
