The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has expressed deep concern about the decline in student performance in the 2023 Ugandan Primary Leaving Examinations.
UNATU General Secretary Filbert Baguma attributed this trend to challenging working conditions faced by primary school teachers, including poor teacher welfare and teacher absenteeism.
Baguma says primary teachers have consistently urged the government to address these concerns through substantial salary increases, but their pleas remain unanswered, resulting in demotivation.
He argues that, in part, contributes to the related scourge of teacher absenteeism, disrupting learning continuity and negatively impacting student outcomes.
While acknowledging recent public rumors about potential teacher strikes at the start of the new term, Baguma clarified that UNATU, as the official teachers’ union, has not sanctioned any such action and reiterated their commitment to established procedures for negotiation and, if necessary, strike action.
Despite the current challenges, Baguma expressed cautious optimism, hinting at a potential pending agreement between the government and UNATU regarding teacher salary enhancements. He urged all teachers to report to work as scheduled when the new term commences.
