In a recent address at Ntare School in Mbarara City, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda vigorously defended his government’s decision to prioritize higher salaries for science teachers over their arts counterparts. This policy, Museveni argues, is driven by the nation’s pressing need for engineers, doctors, and crop scientists to propel Uganda into a new era of development. “We need roads, factories, veterinary doctors, crop scientists, so since we need these very badly, why don’t we start by paying scientists a bit better so they help us go to another level?” Museveni stated. “What we need now is how to maintain that road, not poetry.”
Background and Decisions
Museveni’s remarks are set against a backdrop of discontent from teachers’ unions, who have voiced concerns over salary disparities since the government’s decision to raise science teacher salaries in 2022. The new pay scale saw graduate science teachers’ salaries jump from 1.1 million shillings (\(290) to 4 million shillings (\)1,050) monthly, while diploma-holding science teachers’ pay increased to 3 million shillings. Arts and humanities educators were notably excluded from these hikes, leading to strikes and warnings of worsening morale, especially in rural schools.
The government’s stance, according to Museveni, is not a matter of favoritism but of necessity. “It’s not that we don’t want to pay others well, but we must start where the need is greatest,” he reasoned, assuring that once resources are abundant, arts teachers and artisan instructors would also benefit from improved compensations.
Response from Educators and Politicians
Unions like the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) have staged protests demanding equitable pay, irrespective of teachers’ specializations. They argue that such disparities undermine the morale and cohesion within the teaching profession. Opposition politicians caution that sidelining arts educators erodes the essential humanities and social sciences that are integral to governance and culture.
In a demonstration of unity and purpose, the recently graduated class of 1,372 secondary school teachers, who underwent a patriotism course, seem poised to act as role models for their students, committed to serving the nation amidst these challenges. The training, organized by the National Patriotism Secretariat, was launched under the theme “Transforming Teachers’ Lives through Patriotism.”
Conclusion and Future Outlook
First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni praised the graduates as “a critical asset” in shaping national values. She encouraged them to embrace their roles with “sacrificial service,” despite the ongoing salary debates. Uganda, though allocating nearly a fifth of its budget to education, continues to face pressures from underfunding, high youth unemployment, and frequent teacher strikes.
Despite the controversies, the government remains adamant that its focus on science is intended as a stepping stone towards overall national advancement. Whether this approach will balance educators’ expectations and national needs remains a pivotal question, as stated in ChimpReports, that shapes the future discourse around education in Uganda.