BY JOACKIM KULE MUHESI
A section of primary seven candidates in Kasese district has revealed their disappointment with the Government of Uganda for allegedly declining to respond to the teachers’ call for salary enhancement.
On September 15, the primary teachers from the government grant-aided schools declined to report to their respective places of work citing low pay despite several appeals to the government to have their emoluments enhanced.
This was after the leadership of their umbrella body, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) had announced a nationwide industrial action and directed the teachers to stay at their homes as they wait for a response from the government.
Today morning, Messiah Radio interacted with the primary seven candidates from some primary schools within Kasese Municipality and said they were wondering why the government had not considered the teachers’ industrial action as a matter that needs immediate action given the fact that the candidates are nearing the examination period.
Roda Nabukera and Kenneth Mumbere, both pupils at St. Peter’s Nyakasanga Primary School, noted that they were worried whether they would perform better in the forthcoming Primary Leaving Examinations, pleading for mercy from the government so that teachers return to their respective places of work.
Jane Tricer Muhindo from Uganda Martyrs’ Nyakasanga Primary School concurred with her counterparts from St. Peter’s Nyakasanga Primary School, saying the government should enhance the teachers’ salaries as a way of motivating them.
However, Messiah Radio later discovered the management committees and PTA Executive members of the two schools had hired private teachers to attend to the learners in the absence of the government pay rolled teachers. ENDS