Government has challenged teachers in the country to carry on the good image Zambia has on the globe in terms of discipline.
Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Acting Permanent Secretary (PS) Owen Mugemezulu says Zambia’s identity has been and will always remain good as a shining example to other countries in the Southern African region.
Mugemezulu urged the teachers to be professional in other spheres like sport just like they execute diligently their duties when in classrooms.
The Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Acting Permanent Secretary was speaking in Lusaka today when he flagged off 450 teacher delegation at the Ministry Headquarters traveling to Durban in South Africa to participate in the Association of Non-Aligned teachers ‘Unions of Southern Africa (ANTUSA).
The teachers are drawn from schools in all the 10 provinces of Zambia.
The 8th ANTUSA games’theme is, “Platform for enhancing professional etiquette for teachers among Southern Africa”.
It has attracted teams that are scheduled to leave tomorrow and expected back home on the April 5th, 2015.
Mugemezulu further cautioned the teachers to desist from engaging themselves in illicit sex because the teaching fraternity has not been spared from the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“The code of ethics applies to all of you in your outing out-there. Be professional as you’ve always been here at home and we expect the same identity in South Africa. Also, be wary of HIV/AIDS because the teaching fraternity hasn’t been spared and we’ve lost talented teachers,” the PS said.
He commended the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) for spearheading the trip to South Africa.
Speaking early, BETUZ President Cosmas Mukuka disclosed that 3,000 teachers in the country have been exposed to ANTUSA since its inception eight years ago in 2007.
Mukuka said ANTUSA seeks to break the barriers of migration among teachers in the country.
He said the Zambian side (team) is more than ready to compete in the tournament and challenged the teachers to interpret the gained knowledge back home so that pupils benefit and excel in sport activities in schools.
Teachers from ANTUSA Unions in the SADC region namely: BETUZ (Zambia), BOSETU (Bostwana), Professional Educators Union, PEU (SA), PTUZ (Zimbabwe), TUN (Namibia) and UPSEE (Mauritius) will be showcasing their talents in different sporting code like, soccer, netball, volleyball and other related cultural events including symposium and debate sessions.
The 7th edition of ANTUSA was held in Maseru, Lesotho. The Professional Educators Union is currently holding the ANTUSA Chairmanship and they are deputised by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
Although I am not aware of the source of funding for this trip 450 sounds like too many teachers to send to this event. Are they flying or travelling by road? If by air, this is definitely very expensive. If by road, it does not make sense to spend atleast 1.5 days of travel each way (total of 3) for a 4-5 days event. From the article it is not very clear what the purpose of the engagement is. Sports, breaking barriers of migration, debate, symposium etc. A bit confusing. Anyway, I feel a smaller delegation could have ably represented Zambia.
450 adults, for a seminar abroad.
That is a lot of allowances, but well, again that another way of distributing donor money, it should not only end with Edgar and his entourage to China.
450 teachers, and all have to come with refregirators, smart phones, ama jeans…. good for economy.
But 450 teachers, for how many nights… That is alot of sex, atleast 50 of them will contract some HIV.
What a way to risky important civil servants. 450.