LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A grouping of teachers calling themselves Concerned Teachers’ Voice (CTV) has pleaded with Teachers’ Union of Malawi (TUM) to immediately call off the strike, stressing that the current industrial action is a serious infringement of the learners’ right to education.
CTV national chairperson Stafuel Chitukuta said as much as they do appreciate that the Employment Act and Labour Laws provide for industrial action as one of the rights to workers, the grouping feels the union is using the right to score political points.
Chitukuta made the sentiments at a press briefing the concerned teachers held in Lilongwe on Monday, March 8, 2021.
He emphasized that the stay away has created an educational injustice to the underprivileged learners whose parents cannot afford to send their children and wards to private schools.
“It is indeed our concern to note that learners, who are innocent in this battle are the ones suffering, particularly those in public schools. Since schools were re-opened on 22 February 2021 learners have not been attending classes due to the stay away which was championed by TUM. We as Concerned Teachers Voice we have noted that this is a total infringement of the right to education to learners in public schools,” said Chitukuta.
He added that it was baseless for TUM president Willy Malimba to sign a stay away call-off agreement and make a U-turn within an hour of the signing.
Chitukuta, who was accompanied by over 20 teachers drawn from all the regions of the country, suspected that Malimba was under pressure from some politicians to change his mind on the matter.
“What is more worrying is that learners in private institutions are currently in class and yet they will sit on the same examination,” said Chitukuta, further alleging that children of TUM leaders are in private schools and that is why they are not concerned about the plight of learners in public schools.
He challenged the union to use the K500 monthly deduction from each teacher to uplift the welfare of the teachers during this difficult time.
“We demand that TUM should honour us with audited accounts for the period this executive has been in office. We feel a union which has the welfare of its members should utilize this money to improve the welfare of members, one of which could be payment of the risk allowance which TUM is propagating,” said Chitukuta.
Salima-based teacher Magawa Dimba emphasized that by sticking to its demands for Covid-19 risk allowances, the union leadership is not only victimizing children of the poor and unemployed parents, but also children of the teachers who cannot afford private schools.
Dimba challenged TUM to utilize their meetings with authorities at the Capital Hill to address teachers’ longstanding grievances such as promotions, housing and arrears.
He stressed that risk allowance is a temporary measure, which will not help in addressing their longstanding grievances.
“We wish they could be tackling outstanding issues such as promotions, housing and arrears for the teachers, which are sustainable. TUM needs to know that by keeping learners away from school because the government is not paying risk allowance, it is killing the future of the children of teachers who cannot afford private schools. Furthermore, by failing to utilize these meetings to address our longstanding problems, the union is denying us a dignified life as teachers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the concerned teachers have asked the Ministry of Education to fast track the establishment of the Teachers Council, which is already provided for in the Education Act, saying this could help in uplifting teachers’ wellbeing.
They have pleaded with the ministry to ensure that the funds, which were allocated to the education cluster, trickle down directly to school or zonal accounts.
