Teachers on sit-in for December salaries

Teachers across the country are conducting sit-ins to force government pay salaries of those who were removed on the December pay roll

Visits by radio Islam to various schools in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Likoma found few or no teacher as most of them had gone to the District Council’s office where they are holding their sit-in.

The teachers dressed in red and black were chanting sorrowful songs with others playing games.

According to some of the teachers radio Islam talked to it’s very disappointing to note that government is playing hide and seek on the matter.

“We are tired with the torture and are suffering although they submitted the required information to their respective District Education Managers office,” says teachers

They have given government until Wednesday to sort out their demands failure which will conduct demonstrations.

According to secretary general of Teachers Union of Malawi Charles Kumchenga records show that over 5000 teachers are yet to receive their December salaries.

In a separate interview, executive director for Civil Society Education Coalition CSEC Benedicto Kondowe said is concerned with government’s failure to pay the teachers their salaries after pledging several times.

Kondowe said the fact that the teachers have stopped teaching and are holding vigils is depriving leaners’ right of education hence asking government to pay the teachers as soon as possible.

“I am worried that government takes teachers for granted saying every time issues of late payment arise, teachers are the most affected,” Kondowe expresses

Finally He said CSEC fully supports the action taken by the teachers.