The government has bowed to pressure and agreed to enhance the salaries of science teachers following their industrial action.
As schools reopened their gates for the second term yesterday, science teachers in secondary schools and tertiary institutions excluding universities decided to withdraw their labour.
Through their umbrella, the Uganda Professional Science Teacher’s Union, the teachers blamed the government for sidelining them while enhancing the salaries of other scientists.
They complained that the government went ahead to reallocate the money that had been earmarked in the budget framework to enhance their pay.
Now, Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, says that the cabinet chaired by President Yoweri Museveni has decided to enhance the salaries of science teachers alongside other scientists in civil service. Dr.Baryomunsi speaking…..
Dr Chris Baryomunsi says in addition to accepting the salary enhancement for scientists, the cabinet also decided that the starting pay for all graduate science teachers in the coming financial year should be Shillings 4 million while their colleagues in the medical field at the same level will bag Shillings 5 million.
This means the pay for graduate science teachers will be fixed at Shillings 4 million and grade five teachers Shillings 3 million up from Shillings 1.1 million and Shillings 796,000 respectively.
Vincent Elong, the national chairperson of the Uganda Professional Science Teacher’s Union says that if the government gives them a commitment letter, the national executive committee for the union will convene and decide whether to call off the strike or not. END
