The Secondary Schools Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has observed that most teachers are borrowing from micro finance institutions in order to supplement their meagre salaries.
SESTUZ Secretary General Emmanuel Zulu said this in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe today adding that government needed to look into the issue seriously.
“If you look at most of the teachers payslips you see deductions from institutions like Bayport, Microfin, Natsave and all these other banks, which is an indication that what they are getting is not enough,” he said.
He hoped that more resources would be allocated to teachers salaries after negotiations, which are still going on.
He, however, commended the government on the efforts it is putting through to improve old structures of schools and the building of new ones.
Mr Zulu said that schools in rural areas were the most hard hit as they were mostly built in the 60’s and had old furniture or none at all.
“Another area of concern is teachers accommodation in rural areas, most of the schools have no accommodation and some houses are even dilapidated,” he said.
He said that good structures of schools would not improve teachers morale if the conditions were not improved because even as they are teaching they should be motivated.
minimum salary for our beloved teachers should be k1,500,000:these guys put in alot.can the govt give them equal attention with medical personnel.