Government Warns Arts Teachers Against Strike, Reaffirms Commitment to Salaries

The government has issued a stern warning to arts teachers against proceeding with their planned nationwide strike.

Speaking through the Ministry of Education's Permanent Secretary, Ms Ruth Nakyobe, the government assured that the teachers' salary concerns will be addressed in the next national budget. The government also directed teachers not to abandon their schools but to remain and teach students until the official end of the term.

"The government has assured that the matter of the arts teachers will be handled in the next financial year's budget, and teachers are directed not to leave schools but to teach students until the end of the term."— Ruth Nakyobe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports

Nakyobe stated that the government's position is clear because it has consistently and reliably paid teachers' salaries, including their recent monthly pay.

"It is not acceptable for teachers to go on strike, especially for the reason that the government has been paying them correctly, and they have even just received their monthly salary."— Ruth Nakyobe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports

The Permanent Secretary made these remarks during a visit with other government permanent secretaries to St. Stephen's SS Budondo in Jinja City. The visit was part of the government's broader effort to monitor the implementation of its programs in various regions across the country.

"She said this while accompanying other permanent secretaries from various government departments who were on a visit to St. Stephen's SS in Budondo, Jinja City, in the government's effort to monitor the implementation of government programs in different parts of the country."

The Jinja City Clerk, Mr. Moses Otimong, expressed concern over the negligence and mismanagement observed in some schools, which is hindering education.

He cited the example of St. Stephen's SS, where they found government-provided textbooks that were not being used by the school. Otimong also alleged that some schools charge high illegal fees, which leads to student dropouts.

"He pointed to the example of St. Stephen's SS where they found government-provided books that the school was not using. He said there are some schools that charge high illegal fees, which causes students to drop out."— Moses Otimong, Jinja City Clerk