The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) is urging the government to consider enhancing the salaries of arts teachers in the upcoming financial year to promote fairness within the teaching profession. Following the implementation of a presidential directive in 2021 to increase salaries for science teachers, Unatu Secretary General Filbert Baguma expressed concerns about potential conflicts arising from disparities in teacher remuneration.
Baguma emphasized the importance of fair and equitable salary adjustments across the education sub-sector to prevent discontent among teachers. He highlighted the need for the government to prioritize salary enhancements for primary school teachers and those teaching arts and humanities subjects in post-primary institutions in the budget for the fiscal year 2024/25.
The salary increase for science teachers saw a significant raise of 300 percent for graduate and Grade V teachers, resulting in some teachers earning double their previous salaries. Baguma stressed that similar attention should be given to arts teachers to ensure parity and prevent discord within the teaching profession.
Echoing Unatu’s sentiments, Dennis Sinyolo, the Director of Education International’s African Regional Office, urged the government to prioritize investment in the education sector as a public good. Sinyolo emphasized the importance of adequate funding for infrastructure, teaching and learning resources, and quality education provision in both primary and secondary schools.
Sinyolo highlighted examples from other countries, such as Rwanda, where investments in public schools have led to parents transferring their children from private to public schools. He emphasized the need for Uganda and other African countries to increase investment in education, aligning with the United Nations’ recommended allocation of 20 percent of the national budget to education.
