Teachers in the country have held an industrial action to force government to resolve the teachers’ longstanding grievances.
Malawi24 has found that some schools in the central region were not attending to learners today and some schools said they had the sit-in but head-teachers received messages from their Primary Education Advisors (PEA) telling them to resume work.
The teachers warned of the industrial action last week following a meeting that was held on 5th September this year between the teachers mother body Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) and the ministry of education science and technology.
Unresolved and outstanding issues which the teachers want government to address include funding by treasury for salary arrears, letters of promotion to grade J for some teachers in 2013, salary adjustment for grade K teachers, interdiction of 22 teachers from Lilongwe west and unpaid 2016 MSCE invigilation and supervision allowances.
Speaking to Malawi24 today, spokesperson for the ministry of Education science and technology Manfred Ndovie said the ministry discussed with TUM on the matter hence teachers need to continue working as normal.
“We discussed with them, and now if there is anyone or any school holding any sit-in action, then we don’t know any of that,” said Ndovie.
Very shame to min of edu, very shame to manfred ndovie sindkuona chaphindu wachtapo, very shame to all foolish teachrs who r doing dea work @ds tym showing d@ dea is indeed division among teachrz, completely shame n nosense to all PEAs who r forcng teachrz to resume work, inuso aTUM (presdent/secretary) musamasemphane zochta in decision making.