As the nationwide Arts teachers’ strike enters its third week, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Kedrace Turyagenda, has issued a heartfelt appeal to striking educators, urging them to resume their duties for the sake of Ugandan learners who have been left behind.
Addressing journalists at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Turyagenda emphasized that the ongoing industrial action sparked by salary inequalities between arts and science teachers is causing significant disruption to the education system.
She urged teachers to return to class rooms noting that the industrial action affects everyone including students who are innocent.
“I want to really appeal to my friends, my teachers, my very colleagues, whom I love and treasure, that let us not disadvantage the innocent children,” she said
She stressed that while salary concerns are valid, the profession’s core mission is service, not just a paycheck.
“For me, I’m a teacher, i committed to teach, i didn’t commit to earn a salary, so I expect my colleagues to do the same,” she said.
Turyagenda encouraged teachers to allow their union leaders to handle negotiations with the government and to return to the classroom in the meantime.
“Go and teach as you continue to let your leaders fight on and eventually, the government will definitely fulfill its promise,” she added.
Further defending the government’s phased approach to salary enhancements, Turyagenda cited limited national resources and a heavy debt burden as reasons for the delayed implementation.
“Government promised to enhance not only teachers, but all public servants and it’s coming in phases, because your country does not have enough money. You know, how much debt it has. So it doesn’t have enough money and can only do things in pieces,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has distanced itself from the ongoing strike.
According to Filbert Baguma, the UNATU General Secretary, said that the walkout was organized by a separate group of disgruntled arts teachers.
“As Uganda National Teachers’ Union, we are not on industrial action. And this is a decision that was taken by the leadership, the highest level structure, the annual delegates conference,” Baguma clarified.
However, Baguma acknowledged the frustrations fueling the unrest and urged the government to act swiftly in resolving the salary disparities, warning that even teachers who benefited from recent enhancements are facing strained workplace relations.
“This is a call to government to make sure that this issue of discriminatory enhancement is put to an end because it is doing more harm than good, even those who are enhanced are not at peace, because of the hostility of their workplaces and therefore the earlier they resolve it, the better the education of this country,” he said.
