Primary school pupils in Soroti Municipality have joined their teachers to appeal to government to increase the salary for teachers.
The pupils who are going without lessons due to the strike by their teachers today said an improvement in the payment of their teachers would motivate them to teach better.
At Swaria primary school in Kengere ward, Eastern division in Soroti municipality, the pupils reported to school on Monday but there were no teachers in the classrooms to conduct lessons forcing the children to take out to the playground to play.
Sarah Apio, a primary seven pupil, said she wants government to heed to the plea by teachers and increase their salaries.
Stephen Okello, another primary seven pupil, said he was worried because Mock Examination is approaching and yet there are no teachers in class to help them with revision. Okello said the exams begin on July 28.
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At Pioneer primary school, the pupils were all in class but without the teachers. Some of the teachers at the school told URN that they would only report and register but would return to their homes until the situation normalizes.
Mike Ebuga, the school deputy head teacher, said they were basically following a resolution and directive by the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU). The teachers’ union announced a two-day strike to protest failure by government to increase their salaries.
Pedison Bbaale, the UNATU secretary general last month sent out a notice to all the members of the teachers association that the national executive council standing committee of UNATU met on June 22 and resolved to embark on a campaign in a move to try and influence the national budget, which he said failed to address the crisis in the education sector.
He said the campaign would involve media talks, presentation of petition to the speaker of parliament, protests, litigation and a national prayer between July 20 and 22.
The demand by teachers for better pay has been ongoing since last year with on and off strikes. In the 2012/2013 financial year, a 15 percent pay rise was announced in the budget but UNATU insists that the teachers should get 100 percent increment.
