An empty class at Kyankowe Primary School in Mityana
Several Schools in Mpigi and Mityana districts remained closed on Monday despite the government’s directive to the striking teachers to return to class or lose their jobs.
When our reporters visited some schools in Mpigi Town Council and Mityana Municipality, there was no activity since teachers had not reported.
In Mpigi Town council, Mpigi UMEA Primary School, St. Kizito Primary, St. Michael, Bume, St. Bruno Primary, Besaniya Primary, Kibuuka Memorial Primary and Bugayi Foundation School among others remained closed.
A few pupils were seen playing in school compounds in the absence of their teachers. School inspectors at the district and Town Council remained silent about the situation.
Emmanuel Wakulira, a teacher in Mpigi said that the threats and intimidation by the government is uncalled for. He appealed to fellow teachers to be focused and strong that it is about their plight that has to be handled by the government.
Hajati Aisha Nakirijja, also a teacher described the strike as bad but as teachers they are suffering just like other public servants. She explained that many schools have no staff quarters and that the meagre pay to teachers is unable them to take good care of their families which also negatively impact of their service delivery.
Nakirijja appealed to the government to come in handy to save the country sector and asked the parents to join the teachers to save the teachers’ plight.
Shaban Kabagoza, a teacher at St Bruno Primary School in Mpigi Town Council warned government officials who are downplaying their strike saying that they should respect the laws. He said that by withdrawing their labour in the education sector, the action would negatively impact on the government programmes and the development processes.
In Mityana, pupils of Mityana Junior school, Namukozi were denied access to the school, while Naama Church of Uganda Primary School Mbaliga UMEA and Naama District Administration School – DAS remained closed.
Abdul Hakim Luyirika, a teacher at Mbaliga Umea in Mityana District appealed to the government to speed up the process of addressing their plight and give them a hearing.
Luyirika asked the parents to keep their children at home until the government comes out to address the problems of the teachers. He warned that by forcing and threatening them to return to work without addressing the matter will be a waste of time because they will not be effective in class.
Another teacher at Naama District Administration School – DAS, Fatia Nakalawa said they are waiting for negotiations with government in order to have their issues addressed. She said that the entire school remained closed and the teachers remained in their respective homes as they wait for government to intervene.
Sheikh Sulaiman Mukwaya, a Religious Teacher at Naama UMEA lamented the sorry situation the teachers are going through saying that there is need for urgent teachers’ pay rise. He said that once teachers are motivated, they would effectively perform their duties to the satisfaction of the learners and parents.
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