Teachers demand higher pay as Uganda commemorates World Teachers’ Day

These demands come at a time when Uganda is commemorating World Teachers’ Day, which is today, Thursday, October 5, 2023.

While speaking to this website in a telephone interview, the secretary-general of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), Filbert Baguma, said that teachers are overworked yet underpaid. This, he said, has led to massive resignations, which have left the Ugandan education sector vulnerable and weak.

“As we commemorate World Teachers’ Day, it is important to point out some of the challenges being faced by teachers. Teachers are overworked, yet they are underpaid. They are undervalued, and as a result, many have since quit the profession,” he said.

He added, "Teachers need to be valued and paid well because they are involved in transforming a society."

Some of the other challenges he mentioned include the high cost of living, compensation disparities between arts and science teachers, and overcrowded schools staffed by one teacher.

In light of this, the Government has been asked to raise teachers' salaries fairly and without discrimination, to provide funds for the operationalisation of the teachers' SACCO, to support teachers' professional development, and to invest more funds in teaching and learning to make teachers' jobs easier.

“World Teachers’ Day is celebrated despite the challenges the teachers go through because it’s an opportunity to mobilise support, create awareness of our issues, and much more. If you forget the teacher, you have forgotten education. No education system is better than the quality of its teachers,” Bagume said.

The national commemorative event for World Teachers’ Day is set to be held at Kololo Independence Grounds, with President Museveni accompanied by the Minister of Education, Janet Museveni, expected.