The newly recruited secondary school teachers have written to bring attention to their grievances regarding the issue of unpaid salaries. The Teachers strongly believe there is gross negligence on part of the government through the Ministry of Education Science and Technology for not considering payment their salaries and arrears for which they have worked over five months.
The petetion continues to say, They feel it is high time the Ministry of Education reformed its systems with speed as the teaching profession has turned into a mockery as being a teacher is at owner’s risk going by present standards.
We were recruited 957 teachers, as of today only 500 are still working. We believe that many qualified teachers will keep leaving the noble profession for greener pastures elsewhere because of the resistance to change that exists in the Ministry of Education.
The government, therefore, must understand that by delaying our salaries and arrears:
I. It infringes our right to fair and safe labour practices and fair remuneration under section 31(1) of the constitution of Republic of Malawi.
II. It infringes our right to life under section 16 of the constitution because the salary delay amounts to starving us to death since life is completely unbearable in places away from home as we are forced to work on empty stomachs.
III. It jeopardizes the quality of education, an entitlement for all persons under section 25 (1) of the constitution as the welfare of the teacher who is the facilitator is neglected.
IV. It infringes our right to development and therefore to the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural and political development under section 30 (1) of the constitution.
We, therefore, demand that:
1. Government should pay us our salaries and arrears in full by 28 February 2015.
2. Government should introduce us on payroll and give us employment numbers immediately.
3. Government should disburse all the dues the Ministry of Education owes to teachers.
4. The Minister of Education should resign immediately for failure to resolve outstanding issues that have persisted for long time in the Ministry.
5. There should be an immediate replacement of the officials at the Ministry of Education headquarters who have failed to perform their duties competently bringing total suffering of teachers.
We request, through your office, that this petition be read in the august house so that all honourable members take note of our grievances since we are working in their respective constituencies. We are double sure that your office shall keenly look into our grievances and assist us accordingly with urgency.
If our demands are not met by 28 February 2015 the following actions shall follow:
1. We shall conduct a stay away from our respective schools.
2. We shall conduct an indefinite vigil at the Ministry of education headquarters (Capital Hill) from 1 March 2015 until our demands are met.
