By KETRA KALUNGA
TEACHERS have implored government to reintroduce cut-off point at Grade 7 as a way of reducing numbers in class following overwhelming response to the free education policy.
National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) has demanded for guidance from the government on the automatic progression of Grade 7 pupils following the introduction of free education that has overstrained the teachers who are now teaching a class of over 100 pupils.
The teachers have also called on the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to without fail confirm all the teachers who were appointed by the ministry of Education on local selections following its pronouncement that such teachers would not be confirmed.
National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) President, Victor Muyumba, said automatic progression of the grade 7 has the potential to dilute the quality of education.
Mr. Muyumba said at a media briefing yesterday that the government should consider engaging stakeholders so that the automatic progression is changed to encourage quality progression.
“We support free education but the ministry of Education has not provided guidance on automatic progression of grade seven pupils, to encourage hard work and competition, we implore the ministry to reintroduce cut-off point at Grade 7,” he said.
Mr. Muyumba said the union regrets the pronouncement by The Teaching Service Commission declaring the local appointments of teachers as null and void because such appointments were done by the ministry of Education.
He said the teachers were appointed on local arrangements by the ministry and posted to schools to promote service in the respective areas.
Mr. Muyumba also urged government to look into the issue of accommodation for teachers as the recruitment of 30 000 teachers was mainly centered in the rural areas where housing was not available.
