RUKUNGIRI- The Rukungiri district principal human resource officer, Ivan Tumwebaze has urged teachers to stop running out of teaching because of degree policy which was suggested by the Education and sports Ministry for any teacher to be in class.
“When we try to inquire why most of teachers are requesting for early retirement from public service; the response is that majority fear the degree policy which was suggested by the cabinet,” he said.
Tumwebaze said this on Saturday, October 5, during International teachers day celebrations at Rukungiri Inn under the theme “Valuing teacher voices towards a new social contract for education.”
He added that in the recent past, over 70 teachers left service and that they have just filled their positions adding that they currently receive two to three forms of teachers requesting for early retirement every day.
“I want to assure you that if the policy is to be implemented, it will affect those entering the service newly but not those who are already in service,” he said.
He said they still have many headteachers on Scale U4 who are diploma holders and yet the policy requires a degree in order to be head teacher in primary school.
“When we are recruiting head teachers now, its a must to be having a degree though we have some serving but being diploma holders,” He said.
He said apart from mandatory retirement there are several other grounds of retirement if your 45 years of age and you have served continuously for 10 years others include sickness, abolishing of office, public nuisense among others.
On those who attain diplomas and degrees but remain on grade 111 salary, Tumwebaze said that government considers scale of an officer not level of education.
The district chairperson, Geoffrey Kyomukama who represented security Minister Jim Muhwezi at the function said the government is committed to rehabilitating schools both secondary and primary in the district.
Kyomukama urged them to form a teachers SACCO which Jim Muhwezi will support as person and lobby from the government also to support it.
Jim Muhwezi contributed shs3m to help in organising the function.
Geoffrey Kyomukama said was concerned about how office of RDC is handling head teachers while implementing the decisions of the parents.
“It was everybody’s concern when our head teacher in Buhunga was arrested for implementing the decision of the parents. I want to promise that it will never happen again because as stake holders, we informed all necessary offices about that issue and how it should be handled,” he said.
The Rukungiri District UNATU chairperson, Lovence Biriho urged the district to take over the teachers day celebrations as they do for other national and international celebrations.
” It needs over shs 10m to organise this function which UNATU does not have as they have very many other obligations. District should now take over and budget for teachers day celebrations as they do for Women’s day or independence day celebrations,” she said.
She added that UNATU Rukungiri branch has acquired land in Rwakabengo worth shs 100m and want to put up a building estimated to cost over shs 600m for office and commercial rooms for rent.
Biriho added that most teachers are leaving the profession due to frustration especially their salaries being static in the last three years while those in secondary schools have big difference between science and arts teacher when they all go in the same market.
She urged government to think of increasing UPE funds from the current shs 6200 per pupil per term to at least shs 12000 to enable the head teachers to facilitate teachers who are not on pay roll as well as simple renovation of Schools’ infrastructure.
