AMURU– Teachers in Amuru district have been advised to use SACCOs to further their education if they are to remain relevant in the job market.
Amuru district currently has a total of 630 teachers spread across the 162 operational schools.
Joyce Lanyero, the Amuru district education officer while speaking during the commemoration of World Teachers’ Day at Parabongo Primary School said if each teacher in the district can save Shs 50,000 per month, it would create a revolving fund for the teachers to use to further their education.
Lanyero said this money could be used to send members of the SACCO to further their studies.
“You people could identify colleagues who need to further their education as the savings continue before you know it, all of you in a short period of time would have finished your education and that comes with better pay,” Lanyero said.
Lanyero`s comment comes after the government recently ruled out recruiting grade II and III teachers opting for Bachelor’s degree holders.
Norbert Oola, a retired headmaster, who now chairs the board of Governors at Amuru High School, said most teachers are from humble backgrounds, emphasizing that saving for their education is paramount.
Given the meager remunerations they get as salary from the government, Oola says saving 50,000 won’t cause a big gap in their spending if they are focused on excelling in their career.
“If we want to transform society, the teachers must first be transformed. You can only do this by having knowledge that you get through education,” Oola said.
Isaac Omony, the Chairperson of Uganda National Teachers Union-UNATU Amuru Chapter said furthering education is one of the reasons they have been crying out to the government to increase their salaries.
Omony said that given the high tuition fees in most of the institutions, savings in the SACCO would help but the government should as well increase the salary of the teachers.
Stephen Kidega, a teacher in Lakang Sub-county said that whereas the idea of saving is ideal, many of the teachers, especially those that are paid by their parents hardly earn 200,000 even when they want to further their education.
“We are living in different circumstances, some of our colleagues (in government schools) earn relatively better, compared to us in community schools who earn less than Shs 200,000. With all the other needs it will be a bit tricky really,” Kidega said.
https://thecooperator.news/teachers-warned-over-multiple-borrowing/
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