SOROTI CALLS ON TEACHERS TO RETURN TO CLASS

By Abraham Ekwaru, Communication Officer

Soroti District leaders have appealed to teachers to return to classrooms and resume teaching as government works out solutions to the ongoing salary disparities.

The call was made during a meeting of primary school headteachers held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the District Lukiko Council Hall. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) urged headteachers to mobilize their staff and resume lessons, emphasizing that education services must continue.

“We have a duty to ensure that education is delivered. We are under contract with government, and that contract has not been terminated. While the final decision will be taken at the top level of government, we request you to return to class and teach our children,” the CAO said.

Headteachers at the meeting acknowledged that the ongoing industrial action was triggered by salary disparities. Mr. Emadu Moses, Headteacher of Obiari Primary School, noted that the strike stems from the wide gap in pay between classroom teachers and their science colleagues.

“Teachers received letters calling on us to strike because of the salary differences. The disparities are key to this strike. There is a large gap between classroom teachers and science teachers,” he said.

Ms. Nyacwo Veronica, Headteacher of Omodoi Primary School, pointed out that the increment in salaries for science teachers left other teachers struggling in a difficult economy.

“The little salaries we get cannot sustain teachers. Some of our colleagues take home as little as 15 shillings after multiple loan deductions, just to educate their own children,” she explained.

She added that teaching is a calling, urging her colleagues to return to class as government works on modalities to address the issue.

Mr. Constant Oluka, Headteacher of Awaliwal Primary School, appealed to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to escalate the matter to the President. “We are told to go for further studies, but our pay has not increased accordingly,” he said.

Soroti District Chairperson, Hon. Edoru Simon Peter Ekuu, also appealed to teachers to consider the plight of learners, especially the Primary Seven candidates preparing for their final exams in November.

“We are not stopping the strike, but as it continues, let us also teach our children. We must not compromise the future of our pupils,” he urged.

The RDC echoed the same call, noting that Soroti District continues to register low numbers of pupils scoring Division One in national exams.

“We shall not stop your strike, but we ask you to go back to school and teach while government addresses the salary concerns,” the RDC said.

The meeting ended with headteachers agreeing to mobilize their colleagues to return to classrooms even as discussions on salary harmonization continue at the national level.

Ends