Teachers‘ shay away from celebrating the International Teachers Day as they continue with their sit down strike that is ongoing and now lasted for three weeks.
This day is celebrated every October 5th globally but teachers under their umbrella organization Uganda National Associations of Teachers Union (UNATU) and specifically the Art and Humanity teachers decided to stay at home and mourn instead of joining other to celebrating.
The Secretary General of UNATU Filbert Baguma said that they have no case to celebrate because government is treating Arts and Humanity teachers poorly considering that she has remaind adamant to their wage demand and decided to discriminate them.
“We can’t celebrate this year’s Teacher’s Day because we are not happy like our Science Teachers counterpart. We are still aggrieved by government,” Baguma stated.
The Spokesperson of Science Teachers Association Rathan Katende said that they have UNATU strike doesn’t affect his members and work in going on well despite challenges like lack of enough lab equipment.
Education Specialist Dr. James Kyeyune argued government to review its ways of implement policies especially wage policies if it’s to end the endless strikes by Teachers Union.
Government is doing this out of ignorance or it’s a deliberate means of divide and rule yet all teachers are rendering the same service to government,’’ Dr. Kyeyune said.
He also argued government to find sources of funding the new curriculum of upper secondary level, saying it will not make sense when learners graduate from ordinary level with new improved curriculum and when they continue to advanced level with the old one.
This year’s Teachers Day is commemorated under the theme “ Recasting Teachers as a Collaborative Profession,” affirming the vital role of teachers in strengthening education systems and emphasizing collaboration as a driving force for innovation and inclusion.
Teachers, mostly in secondary schools have ended a third week since they started their sit down strike demanding government to enhance their salaries by 300 times so as to much with those of their science counterparts.
Government through the Minister of Public Service gave the striking teachers an ultimatum of one week to end the strike least they will lose their jobs as they will be replaced with new recruits.