By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
The State Minister of Tourism, Trade, Industry (Trade) Hon. David Bahati has applauded teachers in Kabale district for inventiveness, tenacity, enthusiasm, and strength in uplifting the standards of education in Uganda.
Hon. David Bahati, was on Wednesday speaking as the guest of honor represented by the Kabale district Vice chairperson Miria Akankwasta Tugume during the celebration of teacher’s day in the district that was held at Kirigime guest house in Kirigime ward, southern division in Kabale Municipality.
Bahati who doubles as the Ndorwa West County Member of parliament thanked the National Resistance Movement government led by His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museven and the ministry of Education and Sports with combined effort of teachers in Kabale district for the role they are playing in uplifting the standards of education in Uganda.
“To you the teachers we acknowledge and recognize the work that you do. Teachers are important to our society, the responsibility placed on you to mold the lives of our children and young people of our country Uganda cannot be underestimated. You are at the center of teaching and learning” Minister Bahati said.
And although you have your own personal matters, dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on your personal life and that of your families, we are relying on you to help our children heal and fill the knowledge gaps suffered during this pandemic period. Minister Bahati added.
“It has been a challenging period for all. Teachers, you had to make many adjustments. You had to adapt to protocols and discover new ways to teach and engage students. Teaching and learning online, learning new methods of instructions, completing assessments and this year we are back in the classroom with the capability of working hard” Minister Bahati Asserted.
Minister Bahati requested teachers to do their part, put the learners entrusted to them at the center of their work by attending to their learning needs Government strives to improve on their status and welfare.
Speaking at the same function, the chairperson Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) Kabale district Amos Musiimenta revealed that some of the Secondary, tertiary and technical School teachers in Kabale district have shunned from joining others teachers in the district to celebrate national teachers’ day due to delay in payment of their September salary.
Musiimenta said that secondary, tertiary and technical School teachers in the district did not intentionally refuse to join fellow teachers to celebrate their day, but they lacked transport which they attributed to delays in salary payment.
CUE IN MUSIIMENTA…. ON THE MATTER……RR/ENG//
Musiimenta also condemned the deliberate move in the country to favor science teachers against their counterparts in primary and Arts/ Humanities as it is clearly reflected in the implementation of a discriminatory salary enhancement of over 300% effective FY 2022/2023 for science teaches in post primary education institutions against no increment for other teachers.
He said a discriminatory salary enhancement with in the teaching fraternity has increased disunity, demoralized the unfavored teachers and has affected staff team work and unity hence affecting service delivery among schools. He asked the government to expedite negotiations for salary enhancement for all categories of teachers in the FY 2023/2024 since the budgeting cycle is on.
The chairperson Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) Kabale Municipality Beinomugisha Geoffrey who doubles as the head teacher at Hornby junior primary school in Kabale municipality also told our reporter that none of the teachers in Kabale Municipality has received September salary. Beinomugisha said that delays in salary payment is likely to reduce morale among teachers and that the delays are caused by changes in the system. He however said that they expect to receive the salary by the close of business tomorrow.
