Some science teachers in Kabale district have become more alcoholic and neglected their classroom responsibilities after benefiting from government salary enhancements, the district education officer (DEO), Mowes Bwengye Tumwijukye, has said.The government increased salaries for science teachers beginning in the 2022/2023 financial year. Graduate science teachers now earn about Shs 4 million per month, while science head teachers earn up to Shs 6.5 million.Speaking during the official handover of the former National Teachers’ College (NTC) Kabale to the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) Council on Thursday, Bwengye said the salary enhancement had, in some cases, produced unintended consequences.He revealed that some science teachers had failed to invest their increased earnings in savings or income-generating ventures and had instead turned to excessive alcohol consumption. According to him, some have even acquired loans to sustain their drinking habits. Bwengye said the district has so far lost two teachers to alcohol-related complications and that some teachers no longer devote adequate time to classroom instruction because they spend much of their time in bars.He said the situation should serve as a lesson for UNITE as it seeks to produce competent and professional teachers, emphasizing the need to strengthen discipline, ethical conduct and professionalism among trainee teachers.Bwengye talking about alcoholism among science teachersProfessor James Tumwine, dean of the School of Medicine at Kabale University and former chairperson of the governing council of NTC Kabale, called for the establishment of a support committee comprising social workers and counsellors to assist teachers and students facing alcohol-related and other social challenges.He said such interventions would help address emerging behavioural problems and promote the wellbeing of educators and learners.Prof James on behavioural problemsProfessor Betty Ezati Akullu, the vice chancellor of UNITE, said government had introduced financial literacy programmes for teachers to equip them with skills in saving, investing and establishing self-help projects.She noted that the training is intended to help teachers make informed financial decisions and create sustainable sources of income.Ezati on unintended consequences Teopista Mayanja, the vice chairperson of the UNITE Council, said the National Teachers’ Council has been established to regulate, license and promote professionalism among teachers across the country.She noted that the council will ensure compliance with professional standards and ethical conduct within the teaching profession.Teopista Mayanja on teacher licensing UNITE Kabale Campus was established in July 2024 under Statutory Instrument No. 53 of 2024 as part of government reforms aimed at phasing out Grade III and Grade V teaching qualifications in favour of Bachelor of Education programmes by 2031.The institution, which operates campuses in Kaliro, Mubende, Muni, Unyama and Kabale, replaced the former National Teachers’ College Kabale, which had been in operation since October 1984.The post Kabale science teachers turn to alcohol after salary enhancement – DEO appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.