KAMPALA – Today, October 19, Uganda joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Teachers’ Day, albeit belatedly, as the international celebration falls on October 5 every year. The occasion has brought to the forefront the pressing concerns of teachers’ welfare, with Members of Parliament (MPs) urging the government to address the lingering issues.
The National Teachers Bill, 2024, has been criticized for failing to adequately address teachers’ challenges. Mbarara City MP, Hon. Ritah Atukwasa, called for a thorough study to harmonize the salary disparity between Arts and Science teachers.
Kapchorwa Woman MP, Phyillus Chemutai, highlighted the struggles teachers face in understanding the new competence-based curriculum, which requires significant field tours and financial resources. “Teachers are grappling with this new curriculum, yet it demands a lot from them,” Chemutai said.
Ibanda North MP, Xavier Kyooma, challenged the government to address the salary gaps between teachers, emphasizing that both Arts and Science teachers have families and similar needs.
Tororo Municipality MP, Hon. Apollo Yeri Ofwono, appealed to the government to set aside an emergency fund to enable schools to respond to disasters. “It’s painful to see a traditional secondary school like Manjasi’s roof blown off, yet senior four candidates were to sit for exams,” Yeri said.
Yeri also advocated for private schools to be treated as partners, not competitors, citing heavy taxation as a contributor to poor teacher welfare.
Speaker of Parliament, Anitah Among, tasked the Minister of Education to prioritize improving teachers’ general wellbeing and providing a conducive learning environment for learners.
