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Govt isn’t serious about problems facing education sector – Chavula

Govt isn’t serious about problems facing education sector – Chavula
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Fri 26 Mar. 2010, 09:10 CAT

SECONDARY Schools Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) Copperbelt secretary Davis Chavula has charged that the MMD government has not shown serious commitment to addressing problems facing the education sector.

Chavula yesterday said teachers in the area were affected by a number of problems and were ready for an unspecified industrial action.

“The negotiations for salaries and conditions of service for 2010 has taken so long and our teachers in the Copperbelt ought to resort to unpleasant action which the government should bear! The conclusion of 2010 negotiations should be properly handled because the looming action by teachers in Copperbelt may derail efforts and achievements government has set for 2010,” he said.

Chavula also said that the government should clear the fixed band housing allowances for teachers in Ndola and Kitwe without any delay.

“The arrears for current housing allowance and owner occupier if paid in the shortest possible time will be a clear testimony and motivation for teachers in the Copperbelt,” he added.

Chavula said much as the union would like to commend the government for releasing the fixed band housing allowance, teachers would like to see President Rupiah Banda's government to be more committed in addressing issues affecting the teaching fraternity.

Meanwhile, some teachers complained of not having received the correct amounts of the fixed allowances as expected.

Teachers were due to attend an aborted SESTUZ and Basic Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) general meeting scheduled for Kitwe's Rokona Basic School at which they were expected to discuss the way forward after getting the fixed band housing allowance and the current housing arrears of K150,000 for SESTUZ and K100,000 for BETUZ.

The teachers wondered why salary negations for 2010 were taking so long.
“We as teachers demand to know why negotiations are taking too long. Our union leaders should explain to us,” they demanded.

They said that resorting to industrial actions such as strikes was not a pleasant way of solving issues affecting the teaching service and urged the government to be responsible enough.

Labels: DAVIS CHAVULA, EDUCATION, SESTUZ

posted by MrK @ 3:13 PM