Addressing journalists at the Media Centre, Vincent Elong, the Chairman of the Union says that following the negotiations with the Ministry of Education, Public service, and the Union representatives they agreed to halt the strike until June 13, 2022.
Science
teachers have resolved to halt their industrial action.
Last week, the Uganda Professional Science Teacher’s Union which brings
together science teachers in secondary schools and instructors in tertiary
institutions mobilized its members to lay down their tools at the start of the
reopening of the second term to compel the government to enhance their
salaries and improve their working conditions
The teachers note despite continuous promises made by the government in 2017 to
date about increasing the salaries of science teachers, date no money has been
allocated to this cause.
Despite
the cabinet resolving to increase the salaries of the striking teachers from 1.2 million
to 4 million Shillings, union officials said the teachers will not return to
class until the government commits to the promises in writing.
But on
Thursday, addressing journalists at the Media Centre, Vincent Elong, the Chairman
of the Union says that following the negotiations with the Ministry of Education, Public
service, and the Union representatives they agreed to halt the strike until
June 13, 2022.
//cue in;’’ Basing on the…
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few days ‘’//
According to
Elong, the government wanted the union to completely call off the strike
which they refused on grounds, citing previous promises to address their demands.
He says that they have asked their members to return to school as they wait for
the cabinet decision next week.
If approved
a graduate science teacher will earn 4 Million Shillings and grade V Teachers 3
million up from 1.1 million shillings and 796,000 Shillings respectively.
Last week, the ICT Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said that increasing the
teachers’ salary to 4 million Shillings and realigning the pay of other
scientists in accordance with their grades and specialties will require 735
Billion Shillings.
The Commissioner for Human Resources in the Ministry of Education, Ronnie
Kiberu, noted that the government is working on the salary enhancement for all
teachers including the arts teachers. He
says that the enhancement will be done in a phased manner.
//Cue in;’’ The ministry and …
Cue out…proud of them’’//
The teachers also want the government
to create a special salary scale for Laboratory Science Technicians who work in
school settings. They argue that laboratory technicians in other science filed
share a salary scale yet the ones in schools who are required to have the same
qualifications as other laboratory technicians do not.
According to
the teachers, the lack of a salary scale exposes the technicians to poor pay.
Namugabi Eva
Freelancer