Kampala Kindergarten Association (KKA) has sent home teachers and staff on compulsory unpaid leave as the impact of coronavirus on jobs in Uganda continues to bite.
Kampala Kindergarten Association
told their staff in an internal memo that they should consider the leave as a “temporary lay off” during which the school will not expect them to work and it will not be obligated to meet salary payment obligations.
The staff will, however, continue to benefit from healthcare insurance and have access to Kampala Kindergarten Association staff trust fund scheme while on compulsory leave.
Following the caution that accompanied the April Salary, requesting you to use the money sparingly, you’re hereby formally informed that the school is unable to pay salaries effective May 1, 2020 until further notice,” the memo seen by Education News Uganda reads.
“However, as long as your contract with Kampala Kindergarten Association is still running, you are allowed to continue using the school medical scheme and be able to access your savings on KKA staff trust fund,” it added.
Kampala Kindergarten Association is now one of the major education institutions in the private sector to take such an action.
Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Uganda Christian University (UCU) and King’s College Budo already suspended their teachers and other staff members owing to the disruptions by coronavirus pandemic.
Kampala Kindergarten Association also joins a growing list of companies that are sending home their staff on compulsory unpaid leave with the alternative being sackings due to drying up cash flows.
KKA said the implication of this unfortunate, yet unforeseen event is that the school cannot meet its obligation to provide work for a majority of its staff whose services will not be required while the situation persists.
It is not explained whether staff members’ accrued paid annual leave (if any), will be factored into the compulsory leave period and paid when schools reopen.
Once this pandemic is over, “the school will call upon your service when operations resume fully.”
Kampala Kindergarten Association considered the measures as ‘reasonable’ in the circumstances.
Kampala Kindergarten Association prides itself in being one of the very first kindergartens in Uganda.
Over the years, KKA had continued to maintain its position as a center of excellence in Early Childhood Education.
KKA is a non- profit-making organization whose major activities are is to give care, teach and prepare children between two and six years for primary education.
The school was registered in 1951 as a Public Trust by a group of British parents with a major objective of providing a worthwhile care and education for their children between three and six years.
Initially, KKA was exclusive to only children from the well-to-do families, who at that time were mainly European children. It later turned include local children between two and six years old.
