Teachers and non-teaching staff at Kampala Parents’ School have ended their sit-down strike following a productive meeting with key stakeholders, including businessman and proprietor Dr. Sudir Ruparelia.
The meeting was aimed at resolving their concerns.
The strike, which commenced on November 22, 2024, was initiated due to demands for improved salaries, the cessation of unauthorized salary deductions, and better working conditions.
However, after discussions with Dr. Sudhir, who serves as the school’s Chairman, the staff agreed to call off the strike, allowing classes to resume on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
This comes at time when the end-of-year examinations are set to take place on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024.
“We, the staff, both teaching and non-teaching staff of Kampala Parents’ School 2004, hereby inform you, our dear parents, that the sit-down strike that has been going on since Friday last week has come to an end,” read the letter in parts.
The letter, which was addressed to parents and guardians, indicates that after a series of meetings and interactions with different stakeholders, their grievances were largely attended to.
“After a series of meetings and interactions with different stakeholders, our grievances have largely been attended to for those that were short term and good strategies laid for those that were long term,” it read further in parts.
The school administration expressed its gratitude to parents for their patience and understanding during the recent disruptions.
“We are continually thankful for your support and for standing by us as we sought to be heard. Your dedication to teaching and nurturing your children is truly appreciated,” the letter stated.
The communication from the administration also indicated that teachers who participated in the strike will not face any suspensions or terminations, contrary to reports circulating in various media outlets and social media.
The School Chairman Dr. Ruparelia also informed the concerned staff that he is providing every teacher with an incentive to enroll one of their children at the school for a reduced fee of sh700,000/=.
He also instructed the school management to prioritize teachers’ concerns before they escalate to the media, as such situations can harm the school’s reputation, which is recognized for its academic excellence in the country.
The teachers’ representatives, including Mr. Welcome Chrispinus, Ambrose Mwijukye, and Onesmus Orishaba, expressed their appreciation to the parents for their understanding and support during the strike.
They reaffirmed the school’s commitment to resuming regular learning activities and ensuring the well-being of the students.
Parents of children attending the school also praised the school chairman for his proactive role in resolving the situation, which has paved the way for a more conducive learning environment as students approach the end of the third term.