By Melanie Aanyu,

Government has told striking teachers, to return to class or resign from their work.

Teachers under their umbrella, the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) earlier this month announced a sit down strike over what they described as discriminatory, the proposed salary enhancement for their science colleagues.

Efforts by government to woo the teachers back to class have proved futile.

However, in a letter to the UNATU General Secretary, the Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary, Catherine Birakwate has said that whereas government is committed to ensuring salary enhancement for all teachers, irrespective of the disciplines, this cant be met currently because of the scarce resources.

She however insisted that government can at this time only meet the increased salary demands for only science teachers as their arts colleagues wait a little longer.

The Public Service Permanent Secretary said whereas it is within the rights of the teachers to strike, the current industrial action is not backed by any law.

The Permanent Secretary informed UNATU that there have been reports of schools closed by teachers as part of the ongoing strike, a situation she said cant be tolerated.

To this she said teachers are now directed to return to work by June,24, without fail or else they will face action.

The directive comes a few hours after President Museveni reportedly met with the Ministers of Education, Finance, Public Service, Prime Minister and the Vice President over the matter.

It is said that in the meeting, the president directed that the teachers return to class as government works around getting money for their salary increment.