Arts and Primary Teachers to Receive Significant Salary Boost

Teachers specializing in arts subjects and those in primary education are set for a welcome financial uplift. The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has allocated an additional Shs 568.65 billion to implement a 25% salary increment for these educators starting in the upcoming fiscal year.

This adjustment will see the minimum monthly salary for primary teachers rise from Shs 499,684 to Shs 624,605. Secondary school arts teachers with degrees will experience a jump from Shs 960,288 to Shs 1,200,360, while diploma holders will see their pay increase from Shs 745,000 to Shs 931,250.

The decision comes as part of a larger Shs 2.5 trillion program aimed at rectifying the salary gap created after science teachers received substantial pay raises a few years ago. This initiative is expected to benefit over 155,000 teachers and aligns with national policies for education reform and human capital development.

Beyond salary enhancements, the increased education budget of over Shs 6.66 trillion will also fund improvements in primary and secondary education quality, bolster STEM and vocational training, and support public universities. The government also plans to recruit an additional 3,000 teachers to address staffing shortages.

While the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has welcomed the increment, they have also called for consideration of non-teaching staff in future salary reviews. Despite these positive steps, Uganda’s overall education spending remains below recommended international benchmarks.

This salary enhancement is a significant step towards improving teacher welfare and motivation within the education sector.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)