TEACHING AND LEARNING RESUME WITH LOW TURNUP OF LEARNERS IN ARUA CITY SCHOOLS

 
By Onzoma Albert

Arua city

Teaching and learning in government-aided primary schools across Arua city fully resumed on Monday 20th October 2025, following the suspension of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU)’s industrial action on October 16, 2025, but most schools registered a poor turn up.

The industrial action, which had lasted over a month, was primarily driven by disagreements over salary disparities between science and arts teachers.

UNATU’s leadership engaged in negotiations with government officials, including a recent meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Annet Among.

As part of the resolution, UNATU called off the industrial action, giving Parliament two weeks to address the issues.
The Speaker directed the Education and Public Service Committees to investigate the matter and report back within this period.
Despite the resumption of classes, learner’s attendance was initially low across the Arua City.

On the first day back, only a fraction of the enrolled learners were present.
For instance, in Arua’s government primary schools, the reported number of students was considerably below the total registered.

At Arua Public Primary School, head teacher of the school, confirmed that teaching and learning activities were ongoing after reaching an agreement with parents and teachers amidst the nationwide industrial action.

“For us we were on throughout, because we agreed with parents and teachers where we said no to this industrial action, we had our reasons why we could not proceed with the industrial action as Arua public primary school” he said.

Similarly, Charles Ariaka, the head teacher of Onduparaka primary School reported that out of 2,167 registered learners, 713 showed up on the first day comprising 386 girls and 327 boys with 25 teachers resuming work.

“We as school resumed fully today the learners turn-up is fairly well I think the turn up is not badly off, lessons resumed very well up to this afternoon” he said.

Other schools, like Odravu Cope Primary School, also reported the return of 572 learners out of 1,027, although attendance remained subdued, confirmed by Angela Inzikuru, the head teacher of the school.

“They UNATU leadership has officially notified us to officially resume now concerning the learner turn-up in fact half of them have not come today but I am quite optimistic that when during the week we shall be able to register them fully and this turn-up is not badly off for the beginning” she said.

Teachers in various schools are hopeful that attendance will gradually increase during the coming days.
The reopening signifies a step toward restoring stability in the education sector, but challenges remain in fully re-engaging learners after the prolonged industrial action.