Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Lango Primary Schools Register Low Turn Up as Teachers Resume Lessons :: Uganda Radionetwork
James Obot, the head teacher of the school, who is also the UNATU Chairperson in Otuke district explains that the turn-up was low even before the teacher’s strike. He explains that parents opted to keep children at home to help with garden work.
Most schools in Lango sub-region have registered a low turn up of
pupils following the resumption of studies after the two-weeks nationwide teacher's strike. During the strike by art teachers to compel the government for equitable salary enhancement, the majority of the learners decided to stay away.
However, on Monday, the Uganda
National Teacher’s Union (UNATU) called off the industrial action after holding a meeting with President, Yoweri Museveni on their grievances. Despite the resumption of studies, many learners are yet to return to class.
At Aleri primary school in Otuke district, only about 300 out of 1,224 pupils reported to school on Wednesday. Similarly, only
8 out of 12 teachers showed up to teach.
James Obot, the head teacher of the school, who is also the
UNATU Chairperson in Otuke district explains that the turn-up was low even
before the teacher’s strike. He explains that parents opted to keep children at home to help
with garden work.
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Whereas at Barkeo primary school, not a single pupil out of
the 718 pupils reported to school. The head teacher, Geoffrey Egoo, says that all 13 teachers are present but the pupils are absent. He said that they will be engaging the LCI chairpersons to
mobilize parents to send back their children to school.
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Atopi Annex primary school in Apac district, which
had no learner for the last two weeks opened Wednesday with over 300 pupils. The headteacher, Stanley
Omara, says that teaching is already on going in an
attempt to catch up with the lost time.
“Indeed I registered a very low turn up as far as our total enrollment is concerned, maybe because children are not aware that teachers are
back at school and ready to teach. And you know we have already wasted a lot of
time during the strike so I strongly advise parents to bring back the learners
because time wasted will never be regained.”
Philips Aneki, the Apac District Inspector of Schools, says that the turn-up is very low as pupils “trickle” in. According to Aneki, some learners
are not yet sure as to whether or not teachers will return to teaching normally.
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He called on the school administrators and other education
stakeholders to mobilize parents to send back their children to school in order
to recover the lost time.
