Humanities Teachers in Rukungiri Vow to Continue Strike Over Salary Disparity.

Rukungiri: Humanities teachers in Rukungiri District have unanimously resolved to continue their strike, defying the government’s call to return to class. They have vowed not to participate in any education-related activities, including teaching, until their demands for salary equality with science teachers are met.

The decision was made during a meeting held on June 24, at Palm Real Hotel in Rukungiri Municipality, which was attended by all humanities teachers in the district.

The coordinator of the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers’ Union in Rukungiri, Fred Turamyomwe, said they have reached firm resolutions regarding their strike.

He revealed that on Thursday last week, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union met with the Minister of Education, officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, and other government representatives. During the meeting, government officials urged the teachers to call off the strike. However, Turamyomwe noted that NEC refused to make such a decision without consulting teachers at the grassroots level.

Turamyomwe said that humanities teachers in Rukungiri agreed that unless their salaries are increased to UGX 6.5 million for head teachers, UGX 4.5 million for deputy head teachers, UGX 4 million for degree holders, and UGX 2.2 million for diploma or Grade V teachers, they will not return to class.

He emphasized that this is the right time for teachers to stand in solidarity to ensure equal pay for all.

CUE IN…. TURAMYOMWE…RR//ENG

Some of the teachers who spoke to our news  reporter, including Aurelia Tumuhiise and Esau Isingoma, expressed disappointment that President Museveni and the government have disregarded their profession. They pointed out that they teach the same students in the same schools as science teachers and often studied together in the same institutions.

They added that if humanities subjects are no longer valued, the government might as well remove them from the curriculum. They asked If English is not important, how would students even be able to read or understand science subjects.

The teachers vowed to continue the strike until the government addresses their demands.

CUE IN…. HUMANITY TEACHERS…RR//ENG