Although the Oyam district education department has a shortage of teachers serving in public schools, six teachers were reported to have died in different primary schools in Oyam district during the first and second terms of this year, creating a gap in the education department.
During the celebration of World Teachers’ Day for Oyam district held today at Atapara Primary School in Kamdini sub-county, Casimiro Olobo, the chairperson of UNATU Oyam branch, confirmed this report and said it is causing a gap in those schools because no recruitment has been made yet to fill the vacancies.
Oyam district needs 2880 teachers in public primary schools to meet the standard. Currently, Oyam district has only 1511 teachers in public primary schools, 212 teachers in secondary schools, and 66 teachers in tertiary institutions.
In Oyam district, there are 109 public primary schools, six government secondary schools, and three tertiary institutions.
David Adea, a principal education officer of Oyam district, says many teachers in Oyam district are developing health complications silently because they don’t like going for medical check-ups. Many of them are facing problems due to excessive alcohol consumption and stress. Adea emphasized, “It is very important to always go for a medical check-up in the hospital.”
This year’s celebration is under the theme: “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortages.
