Teachers on the Copperbelt province have given government up to Friday this week to conclude negotiations for salary increments and improved conditions of service, failure to which they will not report for work when schools reopen next Monday.
The teachers have vowed that prolonged negotiations for better wages and conditions of services would not be entertained because the prevailing economic situation in the country was seriously affecting the teachers who have for a long time been subjected to low wages.
Copperbelt Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia, BETUZ, director of finance, Shadreck Chipamila, said teachers have resolved not to work until their concerns are addressed.
Mr. Chipamila said the low wages for teachers’ have turned them into destitutes as they can not afford the cost of basis food items due to increased cost of living.
He observed that the cost of living has continued to rise hence the need for an upward adjustment on teachers’ salaries for them to afford basic necessities for their families.
And Mr. Chipamila appealed to government to increase the allocation for household and car loan funds to ensure that more teachers access funds.
He said currently the allocation is too little to cater for the high number of teachers in the province.
He also appealed to government to clear the outstanding fixed band housing allowances owed to teachers.
He suggested that government should also consider reverting to the fixed band housing allowance rate of K400, 000 as apposed to the current K100, 000.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chimapila has called on teachers on the Copperbelt to remain calm over their inability to receive medical services from medical providers due to non remittance of medical schemes by government as the problem is being addressed.
He said the union yesterday held a meeting in Ndola with the country manager in charge of medical schemes, who assured them that the problem will be addressed soon and teachers will start receiving medical services from providers.
ZANIS
These guys deserve better. Politicians must not just hurry to increase their salaries but also quickly address other Zambians’ concerns.
Give teachers what they want and be mindful that Zambia requires twice the current number of schools country wide.
C’mon, without teachers, we wouldn’ be what we are today.Give the people what they want !
Give what is due to them. They have wives, children, extended amily just like you politicians. Respect teachers coz in the develpment is found. And to you teachers dont go back to work till your demands are met.
Why does GRZ wait to resolve teachers problems until they resort to work stoppage. Its agrazy situation. To achieve anything from GRZ teachers have to behave like UNZA students. Prof. Lungwangwa and team please sort out teachers problems coz when they resort to indutrial action it will not only be teachers on Copperbelt but all provinces. Our children need education not mobile hospitals.
Zambian government does not value education.Since independence teachers have been paid peanuts and even laughed at by the rest of our society as people with a useless job.I am grateful to all my teachers,because of them I am ‘termed’ educated.If I were president I would invest money mainly in 3 areas,EDUCATION,HEALTH & AGRICULTURE.Cuba has advanced in these areas despite nearly 60 years of sanctions.They have the highest number of uni & college graduates per capital in the world.They also have the best Health system and fantastic Agro policies.Its time we got rid of this government otherwise we are headed for DOOM.
The truth of the matter is that Politicians are so greedy to think of the importance of a Government teacher, after all their kids go to private schools, so why bother. They are greedy and will continue being so until we Zambians start standing up to them without fear and remind them that they are not out masters but servants of the people. They have big salaries, allowances and all sorts of useless incentives while a teacher keeps fighting for their rigtiful normal allowances. SHAME on these greedy people. God please help us.
The saga of teachers threatening to go on strike is on and our children will miss out when the term commences.What is wrong with Zambian politicians? You did not take long to increase your perks when it mattered to you but you are failing to do the same for the hard working and long suffering teachers. Most of you politicians once served as teachers,lecturers or university dons and know the plight of this sector of employees. Prof. Lungwangwa, you can make a lasting deference for these teachers as you are also from an academic background.Do not be self serving. If your time to get your gratuities come,you will not even consider that there is a global financial crisis but will go ahead and pay yourselves for achieving nothing! Pay these guys what they deserve as they contribute more.
RB, please stop your jet , jet life and solve these poor pipos problems. These are the pipo who will educate the future leaders, Do something constructive for a change. Not always flying in and out of the country.
Do these teachers have the unions who can do the talking on their behalf?
Give them wat they want
RB, pliz come and make sure teachers are well looked after. I propose 90% salary increament for the teachers this year coz they have suffered for a long time. Its easy for you as a president to understand coz the first lady was a teacher and you used to see her payslip that you ‘subsidised’ heavily during your courtiship & even after marriage. Mr President you need just to realistic here coz things are hard for teachers and yet they do wonderful job.