By CHARLES MUSONDA
THE Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) has called for favourable conditions that will allow teachers make extra money to enhance their disposable monthly income which is currently low coupled with the adverse effects of the COVID 19 pandemic.
PROTUZ director for public relations and international affairs Brian Mwila says this calls for the attention of all stakeholders in the education sector in Zambia to introspect on the challenges surrounding the teaching fraternity in the nation and address them.
Mr. Mwila says the union is cognizant of the fact that its teacher members were yesterday celebrating this year’s World Teachers Day with heavy hearts because of so many pending unresolved administrative issues by the employer.
In a statement to the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr. Mwila said the issues range from non-upgrades to rightful salary scales of teachers who have attained higher professional qualifications, prolonged confirmations in appointments, high pupil-teacher ratio, poor housing units, and poor transport facilities.
He said this year’s theme of Teachers Role in Education Recovery Post COVID 19 has come at the right time as it recognizes teachers for their tireless, fearless and desirous efforts against all odds to keep teaching young people even after the tormenting hardships of the COVID 19.
He said the pandemic’s effects are still fresh to individual teachers and the teaching fraternity as a whole.
“The COVID 19 has left an ugly mark on the social and economic aspects of teachers in Zambia and needs quick intervention by the employer for the nation to maintain its momentum of achieving quality education for its citizenry.
“It is against this background that we appeal to government to urgently address all pending administrative issues affecting teachers such as upgrades, confirmations, and make favourable conditions in the Ministry of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises that will allow teachers to participate in small and medium businesses for them to make extra income to meet demands of their families,” Mr. Mwila said.
He further called on government to extend the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) to teachers especially those serving in rural schools to enable them venture in agriculture and grow more food and enhance their income.
He said this in itself will attract more teachers to serve in rural areas.
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