KATAKWI: In a bid to motivate teachers and students for the forthcoming National Examinations, the Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has cordially interacted with all teachers of Katakwi to further improve academic standards in the district.
The VP also visited one secondary school where she challenged students to answer a few questions in a Chemistry lesson and also flagged off the Skills Training at Epel Memorial Training Institute.
Alupo was flanked by the Permanent Secretary ministry of Education and Sports Kadrace Turyagyenda.
A total of 1673 teachers comprising government aided primary school, community primary schools, Early childhood Development centres, government aid secondary schools, private secondary schools, community secondary schools, Epel Memorial Technical Institution, Katakwi Technical, and Private technical schools were in attendance.
Prominent among the issues presented included; salary discrepancies, the heavy work-overload, teachers’ policy, ECD teachers to have a university degree, teachers’ accommodation, appreciation of best performing teachers.
Others included; hardship allowance, school based recruitment, and free connectivity to fibre cable, scheme of service, dormitories for newly built seed schools and inclusion of in Epel Memorial on the government payroll.
In her remarks, the VP Alupo recognized the vital role played by teachers in shaping lives of the future generations and called upon them to enhance student outcomes, faster inclusive learning environment, develop inclusive teaching methods.
“As educators you are the backbone of our education system. Your dedication and expertise for teaching has profound impact on the lives of your learners. Today I would like to acknowledge your tireless efforts and express my deepest gratitude,” Alupo said.
She urged teachers to remain focused amidst all the challenges as raised above by their Chairperson Pius Oleer saying government is doing its best handle them in a phased manner.
“You are not just teachers, but mentors, guides and role models. You inspire curiosity, foster creativity, and nurture critical thinking. Your influence extends far beyond the classroom shaping character and values of our future leaders,” Alupo said.
She recognized the challenges for managing the diverse learning needs to adapting to new technologies. Your resilience and adaptability are truly remarkable.
The vice president appreciated the teachers commitment to student centered learning and professional development saying as government they will support ongoing training in a manner which is humanly possible.
She told the educators that collaboration and communication are key and urged them to continue working together. “Your well-being matters and I would to promise on behalf of government that we shall continue prioritizing teacher self-care,” she said.
The vice president appealed to teachers to keep candle lighting as they spread it to millions of learners. “I call upon you again to continue empowering our learners because it is an opportunity that’s God given,”.
She lauded the new PS Turyagyenda for her determination and steadiness in steering the education ministry and congratulated upon her new appointment.
Usuk County MP Bosco Okiror thanked the vice president for the opportunity to engage with teachers on how to further improve academic performance in the district.
He told the PS that the issues raised by teachers in their memorandum are partly the reason why they cannot compete on the same platform as a district.
“The desire to achieve a lot is in the hearts of all these teachers, however what they want is to be enabled to achieve and put Katakwi on the map,” Okiror said.
He appealed to government to address the issue of shortage of infrastructure in primary schools especially classrooms and teachers houses, recruitment of new teachers to replace the dead and those retired.
He tasked the new PS to address the issue of teachers accessing the government Payroll, and after do not offer the services for which they are paid but simply abscond.
She told the gathering that teaching is a noble profession and teachers are so precious to God.
“The outcome of your work are human beings. My heart is a teacher. Right now I am in the Permanent Secretary’s office but I have remained a teacher,” she said
The PS informed teachers that their focus should be on the learner and it is the reason for which schools and teachers exist and urged them not to be worried about the upcoming teacher policy saying it is still under discussion and not yet approved by parliament for implementation.
She asked teachers to help parents to know that it is their God given duty to feed their children both at school and home to ensure proper body and mind development of the children.
Turyagyenda asked the teachers to follow the teachers’ code of conduct emphasizing that the most important duty of a teacher is to develop the learner in the body, mind, soul, character and personality. “That’s what God expects of us because we are the link between the child and parent,” she said.
She thanked the teachers, district leadership and the vice president for the academic improvement so far registered in recent years.
According to statistics available at the district education department, out of 2999 children that sat for primary leaving examinations, 72percent were able to pass in division 1-3.
RDC Maj. Godfrey Katamba applauded the vice president for being at the forefront of improving social services of Ugandans. He told teachers that there’s an ongoing school feeding policy review and asked government to endorse it to facilitate feeding of school going children to enhance academic performance.
He congratulated teachers for the sacrifices they offer thus relating them to candles which consume themselves while giving light to others.
He asked teachers to always educate parents to actively participate in the moral upbringing and development of their children adding that, they should not leave the responsibility to teachers alone.
Geoffrey Omolo, the Katakwi district Chairman on behalf of the district and personally thanked the vice president for the efforts made to engage with our dedicated teachers aimed at improving education standards in Katakwi.
“We are sincerely grateful for your commitment to hearing directly from sector frontline workers. Your willingness to engage with teachers personally reflects a deeper appreciation for their work and challenges they face,” Omolo noted.
He emphasized that the gesture by the vice president, builds trust and fosters a stronger connection between teachers and leaders especially when some of her status comes to listen.
He explained that this engagement, presents a valuable opportunity for our teachers to interact with other key stakeholders facilitating mutual understanding thus defining a collaborative approach between teachers at the frontline and government.
