EDUCATION PS URGES ARTS TEACHERS NOT TO STRIKE.
Kampala-Uganda-Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, has urged arts teachers considering a strike over delayed salary increases to prioritize students’ interests.
She was officiating at the officiating at the close meeting of the Simameni Project which has been implemented in Teso and Western Uganda with the purpose of keeping girls in School
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Simameni project, which aims to keep girls in school, Dr. Turyagyenda reminded teachers of their responsibility to educate the nation’s children. She acknowledged the government’s efforts to address the salary disparity between arts and science teachers, stating that meetings are currently underway to find a solution.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that the government is working to resolve the issue and asked teachers to consider the impact of a strike on innocent children.
She hailed the Simameni project which was launched in 2019 in various secondary schools in Teso and Western Uganda for helping to keep girls in school. However, she said the ministry is also doing everything possible to change the situation
Meanwhile, Filbert Baguma, Secretary General of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), noted that while the union has not yet decided to go on strike, the issues affecting arts teachers are being closely monitored, and they hope the government will reach an agreement to increase their salaries.
Baguma said the Simameni project which has been running for five years in Teso and Western Uganda has worked hard to transform girls’ education through equipping teachers with tools of gender sensitive teaching training and mentorship and many other initiatives.
The Simameni project which translates to ‘Stand Together’’, launched in 2019, has been implemented in various secondary schools in Teso and Western Uganda, providing support to keep girls in school. The project has trained over 1,000 teachers on protecting girls’ rights and provided resources such as scholastic materials, menstrual hygiene kits and sewing machines. Claudia Guidolin from the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, which is sponsoring the project, praised the initiative’s impact on girls’ education.
Headteachers and students who benefited from the program reported an increase in girls’ enrollment and retention, as well as improved confidence and well-being among female students.