By Flavia Ajok
Secondary school head teachers across the country under their umbrella Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU) have decried salary disparities and under staffing in government schools.
This was disclosed on Thursday during their Annual General Meeting held in Bunyoro region at Duhaga secondary school in Hoima City under the theme” Embracing innovation and creativity in Uganda’s education system for social economic transformation.
John Kyaboona, the chairman District Education Officers in Uganda notes that there is need for constant capacity building for classroom teachers since some of them went through training colleges and have never got capacity building.
He adds that under staffing is a problem in local governments mostly in rural schools saying as government progresses towards free and compulsory universal secondary education thus need to have a budget to recruit more teachers.
Deborah Basekanakyo, the national president Association of Secondary Schools Head Teachers of Uganda decried the salary disparities saying science teachers, arts teachers and head teachers contribute tirelessly to the education standards hence there is need to have equal salaries for all.
In his response, Alfred Kyaka the Assistant commissioner government secondary education says that government is aware of the salary disparities and is working hard to enhance salaries of all civil servants head teachers and teachers inclusive.
Kyaka says a range of 65% in districts like Kotido and 6% in Hoima were not in school as of 2014 adding that those who are in school are unable to complete a given cycle.
He stressed that learners who are able to enrol and complete a given cycle are not learning the basic skills of survival and are equally not employable.
