LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some concerned Malawi teachers under the banner “Concerned Teachers Voices” on Monday, March 29, 2021 dismissed their mother body Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM)’s threats to call for second national sit-in over unpaid Covid-19 risk allowance as agreed with government.
The grouping told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that the planed nationwide strike will not yield any results while personalizing innocent poor family learners in public schools when their counterpart in public schools are learning.
The grouping’s Chairperson Stafuel Chitukuta observes that TUM has been dragged into political arena instead of serving the interests of teachers.
Chitukuta therefore urged TUM to concentrate on teachers recruitment, gratuities, promotions and salary increment instead of petty demands.
He has therefore called for fresh leadership in the mother body which according to him will truly serve teachers interest not politicians.
“Based on the letter from TUM dated the 24th day of March 2021, we Concerned Teachers Voices would like to remind TUM that “a stumble may prevent a fall ” and that as the so called Teachers’ representatives have done their part in misleading the teachers and we say, ‘Enough is Enough’.
“TUM should refrain from making calls for a stay away as this is not benefiting our learners and focus on steering the walfare of teachers through productive and diplomatic means,” he says.
Chitukuta adds, “The ministry of Education, Science and Technology to fast track the review of our working conditions and salary adjustment during this 2021/2022 fiscal year. Teachers should continue working as we give the government the benefit doubt as we wait for the implementation of resolutions made during the discussions and as far as we have more to deliver since our school calendar is changing from time to time owing to the Covid-19 pandemic”.