By ROGERS KALERO
GOVERNMENT should release grants for the operations of public schools before they reopen on January 24 to ensure smooth running of school calendars,’ the Secondary Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has said.
SESTUZ General Secretary Sitibekiso Wamuyuwa said teachers were looking forward to the disbursement of grants before schools reopen to avoid encountering challenges in their operations.
“Government has abolished tuition fees to introduce free education and so, we expect the funding of the schools through grants to be received soon so that teachers put in place requirements needed for them to execute their duties effectively.
“The quick disbursement of the grants will ensure that schools prepare adequately as they receive back the learners. In this case, government must ensure that it releases grants for the operations of public schools before they reopen on January,” Mr Wamuyuwa said.
Mr Wamuyuwa said with the rising cases of Covid-19 cases, schools needed adequate financial support, which would assure learners of protection once they report for school
And Mr Wamuyuwa has said Government must ensure that it gives priority to teachers that graduated several years ago and those who have studied science and mathematics when it starts the teachers’ recruitment exercise.
Mr Wamuyuwa said mathematics and science teachers should also be given priority because the country has a deficit in the number of mathematics and science teachers.
Meanwhile, Basic Teachers Union of Zambia Secretary General Henry Sinkala said funding in schools was critical to their operations and was confident that government would give priority to the funding of schools.
He also appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to distribute face masks and hand sanitisers to schools like they did last year.
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