The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has called on the government to stop intimidating arts teachers who are on strike demanding equal pay to their science counterparts.
Ssenyonyi made the call during the Tuesday parliamentary sitting, emphasizing the need for a fair and equitable solution to the salary disparities affecting teachers.
Ssenyonyi expressed shock that science teachers' pension is twice the net pay of serving arts teachers.
"It's shocking that science teachers' pension is twice the net pay of the serving arts teachers," Ssenyonyi said. "We want the government to immediately stop intimidating the arts teachers who are exercising their constitutional rights."
The Leader of the Opposition, backed by legislators from various political parties, urged the government to consider presenting a supplementary budget to Parliament to address the salary disparities amongst teachers.
"We want the government to consider presenting a supplementary budget to enhance the salaries of arts teachers," Ssenyonyi said.
In response, the State Minister for Education, Dr. John Muyingo, said the government is engaged with leaders of the Arts Teachers to suspend the strike. "Government is committed to raising their salaries in a phased manner," Dr. Muyingo said.
The strike by arts teachers has affected learners for the last three weeks, highlighting the need for a swift resolution to the issue.
As the government and arts teachers continue to engage, it remains to be seen how the salary disparities will be addressed and what impact it will have on the education sector.
Ssenyonyi's call for fairness and equity in teacher salaries highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the issue.
By working together, the government and teachers can find a solution that benefits all parties involved and ultimately improves the quality of education in Uganda.