ACCOMMODATION for many teachers who have been recruited in the districts has remained a major challenge. Here a teacher at Kafue's Nankanga Basic School settles in his new home

The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) in Ndola has

given government up to Friday this week to conclude their negotiations for improved conditions of service and salary increment.

In a press statement to ZANIS in Ndola yesterday, union district secretary, Charles Chapa said the negotiations have taken too long to conclude.

He said teachers were proud of their profession but warned that they should not be subjected to unbearable suffering.

Mr. Chapa said the union members have since lost patience over the negotiations.

He said government should not blame the union for the actions which its members might resort to.

He said the outcome of the negotiations should take care of the workers’ plight by backdating any salary increments to January this year.

He said the fixed band allowance should be paid to all deserving teachers by May 15th, adding that government should also dismantle the 10 per cent.

Mr. Chapa warned that government should not use what he termed the “mathematical term of co-ordinates” to determine teachers that deserve to be paid the rural hardship allowance because this would disadvantage some teachers.

He further noted that the Premium Medical Aid scheme has failed and should be stopped because teachers have failed to access the promised medical services due to the huge unsettled bills.

Mr. Chapa said the unions and the government should demand for a refund of the colossal sums of money that the PMA scheme had deducted from the teachers’ salaries.

ZANIS

9 COMMENTS

Royal Gold May 13, 2009 At 9:27 am

These politicians don’t care because their kids are in private schools. Very sad indeed
konsinjo May 13, 2009 At 10:04 am

premium medical are thieves, please civil servants don’t join that scheme, i lost a large sum of money.
FORGET US May 13, 2009 At 10:57 am

Please do something for the teachers salaries are too low and a housing allowance of K100,000.00 is very small where can you get a house for rent at that much.
Ba Moze May 13, 2009 At 11:04 am

Uluse bane. Teachers are a forgotten cause. ZNUT, poseniko amano, ka.
Muze May 13, 2009 At 12:22 pm

Too Bad. but Just go on strike, this is when the government will meet your needs.
Deja Vu May 13, 2009 At 12:36 pm

SOME TIMES I WONDER WHY WE EVEN FOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE. IS IT JUST TO PUT A BLACK MAN IN STATE HOUSE?.THE COLONIAL GVT (NRG) ENSURED THAT EACH SCHOOL BUILT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TEACHER’S HOUSES INCLUDING THE OFFICE ORDERLY. JUST VISIT THE OLD SCHOOLS AND YOU WILL APPRECIATE WHAT AM TALKING ABOUT. THOSE TEACHERS WERE NOT EVEN AS HIGHLY EDUCATED AS TODAY’S TEACHERS- AT GRD 9 YOU WERE SENT TO CHALMBANA FOR A TEACHER’S CERTIFICATE-BUT THEY WERE HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND EARNED A LOT OF RESPECT IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY SERVED. TO A TEACHER WITH A MASTERS IS HOUSED IN A STAFF ROOM AND YOU EXPECT HIM TO PERFORM. THEY WOULD RATHER TAKE THEIR SKILLS TO COUNTRIES WHICH WILL APPRECIATE THESE SKILLS.
kulimbe kantu May 18, 2009 At 12:00 am

Without a teacher, we would not be here communcating. So Govt must soon. It is sad. SOmetineswe settle in an office for even 2 years without a house with no allowance. This is the reason private schools are many now because the system is failing to motivate teachers.
Boy May 18, 2009 At 11:23 am

get the K10bn and give it to Ministry of Finance!!jail that chap!!we cant have our teachers live like that!!
Lady chiza's legs May 18, 2009 At 2:06 pm

That guy claiming to be a teacher in the picture is a pirate from Somalia. I know him.