LBA: Life in Uganda

Unlike teachers else where far from remote African places, teachers in Manafwa District are described by underemployment, poor working conditions, under qualification and poor standards of living. Despite this, teaching is a respected profession.

The average salary of a government primary teacher is 160-200,000/= per month and 50-150,000/= for a private primary teacher depending on the subjects taught. i.e. science and mathematics are more valued and therefore higher paid and the responsibilities held such as senior woman teacher, senior man teacher, deputy HM etc. The Headteacher of a Government Primary School earns a net pay of approximately 360,000/= for Grade III and 420,000/= for a Grade I Headteacher. A Headteacher at a Private School will normally earn less (approximately 200-350,000/=) depending on the size of the school and the HM’s qualifications.

In Secondary Schools, a teacher’s pay depends on their qualification – a diploma holder will earn approximately 300,000 per month, and a degree holder approximately 400,000 per month. A Headteacher at a Government Secondary School can earn up to 650,000/=. This however may be supplemented by the PTA of the school with anything from 10-150,000/=, depending on the size of the school, the subjects or number of classes taught, the responsibilities, and an individual’s negotiations.

A teacher in Manafwa District has to wake up early in the morning and will travel to school on foot – usually a distance of anything between half a kilometre to 4 kms, although some teachers move greater distances of, for example 12kms, to school each day.

Many teachers do not receive lunch at school, and those that do often have to contribute to the costs of the meal. Namasaaba Olive is a teacher at Butiru Model Comprehensive Government School. She revealed that she pays 30,000 per term in order to have black tea for breakfast and posho and beans for lunch. The teachers also have to provide the cups and plates for their meals.

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