Teachers in the Private Education sectors are a subset of most stressed employees in this corona virus lockdown as they can not get monthly salaries since government ordered for the closure of all schools and institutions of learning on March20th.
Ministry of Education and Sports after hearing public outcries has issued orders to all Schools Proprietors and Heads of Institutions of Education asking not to hide under the pretext of COVID-19 period to default Teachers and other employees salaries.
In a letter dated May 18th, 2020, Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary MoES urged that two months lockdown period is less than the time that was left for schools first term including holidays therefore school’s budgets are adequate to pay their employees.
“This period is less than the time that was left for first term of 2029 including holidays when schools were forced to close. Therefore the budget for salaries for first term should be adequate to pau for at least three months,” read excerpts of the letter.
It should be noted that on March20th, President Museveni directed all schools, Higher Institutions of learning, churches to close for 32 days as a mean of combating the spread of COVID-19 virus. He later on April 14th extended the lockdown making schools miss first term studies.
However, MoES said that school managements are obliged to pay their Teachers and other employees as per MoES guidelines for staff employment, the Employment Act and as agreed in employees contracts.
According to Guideline 3 (9) of the Education Ministry for staff employment in private schools and institutions of education, school managements are required to pay their full-time Employees during both school term and holidays.
However, it has been noticed that most private schools, institutions both in rural and urban areas have been using the lockdown as an execuse to dodge Teachers and workers their salaries/ wages including last year’s arrears.
Full Statement By Alex Kakooza, PS MoES.
Apparently, there were media reports alleging universities like IUIU, UCU, Ndejje University to have suspended payments of Staff salaries. This continues making Teachers vulnerable to the precedents caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
