An assessment of the effects of teachers’ industrial action on pupils’ rights to education in selected government primary schools in Soroti Municipality

Abstract

The research was set to assess the effects of teacher’s industrial action on the pupil’s right to education in Soroti Municipality. It specifically sought to examine the causes of the industrial action, ways in which the industrial action affects pupils’ right to education and sustainable means of mitigating industrial action and its effects in Soroti Municipality. The research employed random sampling technique to select the primary schools and communities from where eighty one (81) respondents were selected; questionnaires and interviews were employed to draw information from respondents. The findings showed that the incessant industrial action by Uganda National Teachers Association has disrupted the academic calendar of primary schools and this has affected pupils’ academic pursuit and performance, 71.6% of the respondents have experienced the industrial actions and 51.6% admitted that UNATU industrial actions have had negative influence on their academics. Almost sixty percent 59.5% believed that government can find a lasting solution to the problems of UNATU industrial action through prompt and rewarding dialogue that grants the request of UNATU in a timely manner. The study suggests and recommends that pupils should engage themselves in tutorial classes or self-study during the industrial action to keep them abreast with academics at resumption, their parents or guardians should ensure that they encourage the learners engagement in academic activities rather than domestic chores while the strike lasts, the members and the executives of UNATU should employ other industrial dispute resolution strategies to express their grievances rather than embark on indefinite industrial action which obviously paralyses pupil’s academics. The Ugandan Government should also employ the method of prompt dialogue and grant the requests of UNATU in time to prevent erosion and total breakdown of the educational sector.