Following government’s position stating that all striking teachers must report back to their respective schools by June 30th or risk to be regarded as absconders of government assignment, the Forum For Democratic Change Spokesperson Hon. Ssemujju Nganda has said that the physical presence of teachers in a classroom doesn’t mean teaching and learning is taking place.
“You can force teachers to return to class, and they actually don’t teach. This is a big problem that’s going to affect our education sector,” Ssemujju said.
He added that the head of State is intelligent but sometimes acts like Amin.
“President Museveni went to school , he is intelligent but sometimes he acts like Amin,” Ssemujju added.
Ssemujju who was appearing on the NBS Morning breeze show advised the government to please both arts and science teachers and not only the latter.
“If the teachers’ salaries are going to be increased, let it be for all the teachers. You can’t have one group complaining and the other not complaining,” he said.
He further stated, “even those scientists that are excited wait when they’ll go to the bank and find that the shs 4,000,000 is not there”.
Over the weekend, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Communication and National Guidance said that government will not find any problem in replacing the striking teachers.
The teacher’s strike which is entering the third week resulted from government’s decision to increase the pay for science teachers by 300 per cent in disregard of their colleagues in arts and humanities.