Museveni directs on teacher promotion scheme 

President Yoweri Museveni has directed the ministry of Education and Sports to create a well-defined scheme of service for teachers.

This scheme will outline the processes of teacher promotion and remuneration. The president’s decision comes in response to a request from Vincent Elong, chairperson of the Uganda Professional Science Teacher’s Union.

Elong emphasized that this scheme has the potential to streamline teacher compensation, incentives, and motivation, ultimately leading to improved service delivery by teachers. He pointed out that the absence of a clear career advancement path within the education sector often sees teachers stuck in their initial positions, irrespective of their academic qualifications or experience.

Drawing a comparison with the foreign affairs service, Museveni noted that individuals can initially hold a lower grade, such as grade six, but can gradually progress over time to grade one. He suggested that a similar framework should be introduced for teachers to facilitate their career advancement.

“This system of grades should be introduced in the teaching service because, in the other civil service, they have grades. You can be assistant secretary but the one is like a rank but this one you’re still a teacher, classroom teacher but grade this grade that. I don’t know why it was not taken up. What is the issue because now you’re a teacher, the only promotion is deputy headteacher and then headteacher. No that is not fair. I can still be a teacher but teacher grade this, grade that,” said Museveni.

This development occurred during a gathering of teachers at Kololo ceremonial ground to commemorate World Teachers’ Day, which revolved around the theme: “The teachers we require for the education we aspire to: The global urgency to address the shortage of educators.”

A scheme of service that teachers call for is a structured system in which all teachers have the chance to advance to higher salary tiers based on factors like the duration of their service and academic qualifications. Teachers have long sought a more efficient system for career advancement and recognition through a teacher scheme of service that enables the promotion of educators who choose to remain in the classroom. 

Currently, there is no clear path for career progression once a teacher assumes a classroom role, even if they improve their qualifications or gain experience. Promotion typically only occurs when a teacher transitions to a deputy headteacher or headteacher role, which isn’t feasible for everyone. 

Alex Musaazi, a social studies teacher from Wakiso district pointed out that the absence of such a mechanism has discouraged many teachers from pursuing further academic qualifications, as they lack the motivation to achieve higher degrees. 

“When you begin as a grade III teacher, there is no prospect of promotion or salary increase, even if you attain a master’s degree. A more structured promotion system would eliminate the need for the ministry to mandate teachers to obtain mandatory degree qualifications, people would be doing this on their wish,” Musaazi explained.

Musaazi added that teachers who invested in upgrading have always been frustrated because their salaries were pegged to the levels at which they teach and not their qualifications. Meanwhile, the president also recollected that this very matter had been raised to his attention in a meeting with Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) leaders held in Bugolobi back in 2011. He expressed surprise and concern, wondering whether those responsible for addressing the issue had disregarded his advice at that time, resulting in the problem remaining unresolved.

“Because you don’t listen. When you see an old man like me giving you an idea, you pay attention to it…but this system of foreign affairs is a smart one. The foreign service officer like had been appointed the other time but you’re grade 6 and after some time you’re promoted to grade 5. This is a very smart way…You’re a classroom teacher but teacher grade this, then after some time how do you get promoted? Do you get promoted because of years of experience or do you do an exam? What do you do, you should agree on that,” said Museveni.

Margaret Rwabushaija, former UNATU chairperson and currently serving as a Workers’ MP, responded to his statement by explaining that while there was an agreement on this matter in the past, the ministry of Education had repeatedly made promises to deliver on it but had failed to follow through, leaving the issue unresolved.

Records indicate that the scheme of service currently under discussion was initially formulated in 2005 by the Education Service Commission but has been put on hold ever since. The government’s efforts to promote primary teachers were initiated in FY 2009/2010 but were subsequently suspended. 

In 2011, the then minister of Education, Jessica Alupo, announced a plan to allocate a budget of Shs 40 billion for this purpose, but unfortunately, no concrete progress was made. Apart from the service scheme, the issue of housing has also emerged prominently this year, with teachers advocating for improved accommodation facilities.

Elong highlighted how this situation was negatively impacting the quality and performance of teachers, as many were burdened by rent expenses and faced long commutes to reach their workplaces. He suggested that the government could address this challenge in two ways: firstly, by establishing a special housing grant to assist teachers in constructing better personal houses, or secondly, by constructing staff quarters on school premises throughout the country.

However, Museveni dismissed the idea of building individual houses for teachers, indicating his agreement on the need for housing but emphasizing that such housing should be institutional in nature rather than personal.

“The correct way of teachers’ houses is institutionalized housing because if you say we give you money to buy a house for yourself then what happens to the next teacher? [For] the next teacher this house should be there, an institutional house near the school,” said Museveni.

Janet Kataha Museveni, Education minister also underscored the importance of addressing this critical issue, stating that it is now a top priority. She acknowledged that in the past, a significant emphasis had been placed on constructing classrooms due to the high influx of students into schools.

However, Ms Museveni added that they have recently made a strategic decision to ensure that every new project includes a component for building staff housing. This initiative began with the UGIFT project, which has been involved in constructing seed schools across the country.

“We have always known that for a long time, there was no teachers’ houses included in the school construction when universal education started with the primary and then secondary. The issue was to quickly put up classrooms and more classrooms and more classrooms that would accommodate the number of learners that were going to school. But we realized in 2017 when we started this project of UGIFT when we said we must make a decision to start construction of teachers’ houses at all schools starting with that project. And we said from there going forward, whichever projects come to build more schools they will certainly include teachers’ houses at all school campuses,” said Ms Museveni.

Just like in previous years, demands for a salary increase were once again a prominent part of the Teachers’ Day celebrations. In contrast to previous occasions when the president had a strong reaction to the demands of arts teachers who were questioning what they perceived as an unfair increase given to science teachers, leaving them excluded, this time he remained composed. 

Museveni also emphasized that he doesn’t underestimate the importance of social scientists, as their contributions are vital alongside scientists. However, he reiterated his earlier message that scientists received raises first because they are fewer in number, and the country urgently requires their expertise to address various pressing issues, even though there are limited funds available for resource development. However, he added that as more funds become available, all teachers will receive salary increases.

This year’s Teachers’ Day celebration appeared to be less vibrant compared to previous years, with a noticeably smaller attendance. Notably, the influential group of teachers under UNATU was conspicuously absent, whereas, on recent occasions, they had a significant presence, painting the venues with their distinctive orange colors. On this occasion, only a few of their representatives attended.

Despite their smaller numbers, the science teachers seized the opportunity to make a strong impression, singing praises and expressing gratitude to the ministry of Education and Sports and urging their colleagues in the arts to remain patient while waiting for the promised salary increases, which are expected to be implemented in a phased manner. 

During the event, UNICEF recognized and awarded six teacher trainers with laptops for their exceptional contributions to the teaching profession. The president also used the occasion to announce his commitment to inject more funding into the savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) of various teachers’ unions.