Following the ongoing industrial action by humanities teachers across the country, pupils in Kisoro District have resorted to vending sugar cane in an effort to raise funds for private tuition.
Speaking to our reporter, several pupils expressed frustration over the continued teachers’ strike, citing salary disparities in both Universal Primary and Secondary Education schools. As a result, many children have taken to the streets of Kisoro Town and other nearby markets to sell sugar cane, saying it’s better than staying idle at home.
The pupils from Universal Primary Schools revealed they have little to do at home and saw joining the sugar cane business as the only option to help raise money for school fees in private institutions. However, they also lamented the low returns from the business, pointing out that vending sugar cane is not profitable and often comes with harsh working conditions.
“We are suffering. There’s barely any money in this business, but we have no choice,” one pupil said. “We ask the government to intervene and bring teachers back to school.”
CUE IN PUPILS……ON THE MATTER……RR//
Rev. Sam Ziita, the headteacher of Muganza Primary School in Chahi Subcounty, urged parents to prioritize the safety and protection of their children during this period. He also appealed to striking teachers to consider the plight of candidates, specifically Primary Seven, O-Level, and A-Level students, who are just weeks away from sitting their final examinations.
CUE IN REV. ZIITA……ON THE MATTER……RR//
Meanwhile, the strike continues to spark widespread concern across the nation. In Kabale District, the Education Officer, Tumwijukye Moses Bwengye, has expressed concern about the potential outcomes of this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). While confirming that the district is fully prepared to conduct the exams, Tumwijukye urged teachers to return to class as negotiations between the government and educators continue.
CUE IN TUMWIJUKYE… ON THE MATTER… RR/ENG//
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with our reporter, UNATU Secretary General Philbert Baguma defended the ongoing teachers’ strike. Baguma stated that teachers have exercised patience for over three years without receiving any tangible results from the government.
CUE IN BAGUMA… ON THE STRIKE… ENG//
