Malawi teachers cry foul over delayed salaries

R.B · 2012-10-11T19:55:50+00:00

housands of secondary and primary school teachers are currently crying foul over delays by Ministry of Education to pay them their September perks. Ironically, some of the civil servants were already paid their salaries as early as September 20, leaving the teaching professionals in state of despair as some are being forced to engage themselves in ‘katapila' (loans) in to survive. In random interviews many teachers complained of being paid late every month comparing to other government departments. Teachers: Delayed salaries "Imagine up to date am not paid. Is it a part time job or what? We are employed just like other people in other government departments so there should not be segregation when paying us our salaries. Every month its same story, delayed salaries," lamented one of the teachers at Kanjedza Primary school identified as Mrs. Gama. Effort to get the ministry's explanation proved futile as its Public Relations Officer, Lindiwe Chide could not respond to the questionnaire sent to her. Some of the interviewed teachers also accused the ministry for delaying paying them their arrears after been promoted to PT1 and PT8 last year. "We were promoted to PT1 and PT8 in 2011, but since then they have not given us our arrears. Whenever we make a follow, they always we will be paid, but when? It's long overdue. They have to consider us," lamented another teacher. Meanwhile, Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) has given government up to October 19th, 2012 to promote long-serving deserving teachers or face an industrial demonstration. TUM Secretary General, Dennis Kalekeni gave government an ultimatum during this year's World Teachers Day commemoration in Lilongwe on Friday. "The union met the State President Joyce Banda on 4th September over the matter and we will meet again on 19th this month, and this time around it will be a break or make. The issue of promotion is outstanding in the teaching service, to the extent that some haven't yet been promoted despite working for more than 20," Kalekeni explained. "If government won't meet our demands on promotion, then we'll have no option but call for an industrial action, because this issue has been a thorn on our side for so long, and you know what happens if teachers were to go on an industrial strike, it could bring the country to a standstill," warned Kalekeni.

Thread starter R.B
Start date Oct 11, 2012

R.B

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Malawi teachers cry foul over delayed salaries

R.B

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