The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has raised alarm over a looming crisis in the education sector due to stark salary disparities between science and arts teachers.
Filbert Baguma, UNATU’s General Secretary, sounded the warning while appearing before Parliament’s Education Committee on February 5, 2025. He highlighted the growing dissatisfaction among arts teachers following the government’s decision to significantly enhance salaries for their science counterparts while leaving others behind.
Baguma criticized the distinction between science and arts teachers, arguing that science teachers should not be considered superior simply because they teach scientific content.
“Science teachers are not scientists. They do not invent the content they teach; they merely pass it on to learners, just like their counterparts in primary schools and the arts and humanities fields. Categorizing teachers as science or non-science is unfair because all teachers deliver content, just in different fields,” he said.
He further questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to increase science teachers’ salaries by 300%, making them earn up to five times more than their arts colleagues with similar qualifications and experience.
“Not all students are destined for science careers. The diversity of subjects exists to cater to different abilities and interests. Yet, in all this, Ugandan children are being denied their right to quality education,” Baguma added.
A Growing Pay Gap
In the 2022/23 financial year, the government increased salaries for science teachers by 300% without any corresponding increment for arts teachers in secondary schools or primary school teachers. Prior to this, science teachers had already been receiving a 30% science allowance since 2012 to align with allowances given to other scientists in different professions.
Before the recent increments, a graduate science teacher earned UGX1,210,213, while their arts counterpart earned UGX1,078,162. Similarly, a diploma-holder science teacher earned UGX933,966, compared to UGX784,214 for their arts counterpart. At the time, UNATU considered the difference reasonable. However, with the new 300% increase, science teachers now earn significantly more, deepening the pay gap.
Impact on Schools
Baguma detailed the negative consequences of the salary disparities, warning that they have created divisions among teachers.
“Some schools now have separate staff rooms for arts and sciences. In many institutions, tensions have escalated to the point where teachers from the two groups no longer see eye to eye. Teamwork has eroded,” he explained.
He further revealed that science teachers have become difficult to manage, often displaying arrogance due to their higher pay.
“Some science teachers now earn more than their supervisors, including head teachers, district education officers, town clerks, and chief administrative officers. Meanwhile, primary school teachers, who lay the foundation of education, are demotivated and morale is at an all-time low,” he noted.
Baguma also pointed out that the financial struggles faced by teachers do not differ based on subject area.
“All teachers shop from the same markets, rent houses in the same neighborhoods, and face the same economic hardships. Some even teach the same students across different subject combinations, yet one is paid five times more than the other,” he lamented.
Effects on Education
The disparities have also affected students’ perceptions of their teachers.
“Students have started belittling their arts teachers, calling them ‘comedians,’ ‘entertainers,’ and ‘singers.’ Some science teachers promoted to administrative positions, such as district education officers, are now opting to return to classroom teaching because the pay is better,” Baguma said.
UNATU also warned that the situation is set to worsen with the upcoming salary structure set to take effect on July 1, 2024. Under the new structure, head teachers and deputies in science subjects will earn UGX6.5 million and UGX4.5 million, respectively, while their counterparts in the arts and humanities will continue to earn UGX2.3 million and UGX1.7 million.
Some local governments have already struggled to accommodate the new salary demands.
“Some newly appointed science teachers are being rejected by local governments because their salaries exceed the wage bill cap. Schools have had to use PTA funds to pay arts and humanities teachers, but science teachers are rebelling, arguing that the funds should be shared among all staff,” Baguma explained.
MPs Weigh In
Members of Parliament expressed concern over the widening pay gap. James Kubeketerya, Chairperson of the Education Committee, acknowledged that while science teachers have historically received slightly higher pay, the current disparity is excessive.
“Back in 1992, science teachers were given an extra UGX10,000, which was a small difference. Today, the gap is too big. If the government is increasing salaries, it should work toward closing this gap rather than widening it,” Kubeketerya said.
Peter Okeyoh (Bukooli Island) voiced strong opposition to the current policy, calling it discriminatory.
“I will never support this. The government should systematically increase all teachers’ salaries rather than favoring one group. The disparity has created division, even in staff rooms, where science teachers can afford better meals than their arts counterparts. This needs to be corrected,” he argued.
Abdhul Byakatonda (Workers MP) labeled the policy illegal, citing Article 21 of the Constitution, which calls for non-discriminatory pay structures.
“Salary disparities demotivate workers and violate the law. The government must gradually increase salaries across the board. If we continue on this path, we risk creating disharmony in public service,” he warned.
Auditor General’s Report
The Auditor General, Edward Akol, also raised concerns about the financial implications of the pay disparity in his December 2024 report. He warned that the higher salaries for science teachers could lead to an unsustainable pension burden.
“The salary increase has incentivized early retirement among science employees, increasing pension liabilities. If not managed, this could strain Uganda’s financial sustainability,” Akol cautioned.
The report compared the retirement benefits of science and arts teachers who had served for 30 years. A science teacher earning UGX4 million per month would receive UGX172.8 million in gratuity, while an arts teacher earning UGX1,078,162 would receive only UGX46.5 million.
Similarly, a retired science teacher’s monthly pension of UGX1.92 million would be almost twice the net salary of a serving arts teacher. The situation was even worse for commissioners, where a science commissioner would retire with UGX462.7 million, while their arts counterpart would receive only UGX80.7 million.
Upon retirement, a science officer will receive UGX 462.71 million in gratuity, whereas an arts officer will receive UGX 80.77 million.
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