Uganda National Teachers Union has outlined conditions for calling off the ongoing teachers’ strike in the country.
Teopista Birungi Mayanja, UNAT secretary general says the current confusion and uncertainty in the schools has been caused by the unwillingness by government to engage the teachers in finding a suitable solution. While teachers want a 100 percent salary increment, government has been reluctant to give in to their demands.
Birungi says the teachers are conscious about the professional obligations towards the learners, the education authorities and the communities but that UNATU is finding it difficult to mobilize the teachers to resume teaching without a positive consideration from government.
In a media statement on Tuesday, Birungi says UNATU is however willing to call off the strike on condition that government withdraws the agents of intimidation and harassment now surrounding the schools.
She also calls government to refrain from issuing dismissal threats and evicting teachers from houses because of engaging in a strike over meager salaries.
Birungi also wants the government to consider designating a particular employment agency as a clearing house for teachers concerns in the country, so that it is the one to be tasked for the action or inaction over teachers’ demands.
As schools opened for third academic term on Monday, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi directed RDCs, town clerks, municipal mayors and LCV chairpersons to monitor schools and report teachers who fail to report to work within the first seven working days. Mbabazi threatened to relieve them of their duties.
When contacted to comment on the issue, Mary Karooro Okurut, the minster for information referred Uganda Radio Network to her education counterpart, Jessica Alupo, who also declined.
