President Edgar Lungu has urged teacher unions to help teachers prepare for their welfare after retirement.
President Lungu notes that its government’s desire to see that teachers among other things have their own accommodation at the time of retirement hence unions must look into such affairs by negotiating with financial institutions such as the Zambia National Building Society to find the way forward.
The President says the government also wants the country to have a cadre of teachers that is full of the spirit to serve therefore unions must seriously help them to adequately explore their post-retirement.
He has further advised the unions to encourage teachers to avoid complete dependency on salaries alone but to help them venture into entrepreneurial activities.
“Your union should not just be interested in membership. Look to others and see how they can become members. Help them come up with cooperative schools. We want to use all available resources to grow the economy,” he says.
The Head of State was speaking at State House in Lusaka yesterday when members from Basic Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) paid a courtesy call on him.
President Lungu noted that he also desires to see that teachers with skills become innovators and entrepreneurs so that they create employment for other people.
“So I look forward to a time when people leaving college and universities should say I’m going to set up this. What I want is support from government or government houses to set up this industry. Very few Zambians want to go that route. I think the challenge is on our mindset, we need people in communities who would look to themselves, to the communities they live and say I’m going to be an employer or I will build up a school or I will convert this building into a school, I have people who can work with me, we shall come up with a cooperative and run a school. We don’t do that here, all we do is I want a job from the civil service,” the President said.
The President further stated that government is making every effort to ensure that more teachers are recruited but however the capacity to employ depends on the country’s economy, the reason why everyone must participate to grow the economy.
And BETUZ General Secretary, Henry Sinkala appealed to government to consider employing the over 47, 000 teachers that are trained but are unemployed to help address the pupil teacher ratio which he said is still very high especially in rural areas.
Mr. Sinkala however thanked President Lungu and government for the many improvements that have been done in the education sector among them the 8 percent salary increment and putting of 65, 000 teachers who upgraded their qualifications on new salary scales.
“Government has done well in a number of things. We are happy that your government has considered over 65, 000 teachers who upgraded their qualifications for new salary scales without following other procedures,” he said.
Mr. Sinkala stated that once schools open, the Union will explain to its members the successful collective agreements that it has arrived at with government including the double class allowances and maintained payment of remuneration allowances among others.
He noted that the union is mandated to support government of the day and to ensure that its policies are effectively implemented.
Unfortunately you won’t see them maybe in prisons you will hear from them.
Just prepare to leave your time is up.
You are just a failure and we made a terrible mistake to employ you.
PF must go!
Says a president whose entire tenure has neither been innovative nor entrepreneurial .Tis very misguided to have teachers with side businesses coz academic standards will surely fall.
Useless peace of sh1t wanna be president, what a w@nker……… with an IQ of a rat
The mark of a failed president, the chap is dull with an IQ of a rat…. one ball man, cant do the job… m**ther fcuker is not man enough
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President Edgar Lungu has urged teacher unions to help teachers prepare for their welfare after retirement.”-LT
Does PF administration go over the spreadsheet of the nation? I thought they announced budget every year?
Current PF administration timeout.
“What are the uses of a budget?
Control income and expenditure (the traditional use) Establish priorities and set targets in numerical terms. Provide direction and co-ordination, so that business objectives can be turned into practical reality. Assign responsibilities to budget holders (managers) and allocate resources.”
My wise hardworking president for me. We thank you so much for your wisdom and hard work. It is true that teachers are one of the most important professions. Meanwhile what is upnd policy on education? No one knows.
Kaizar, do you comprehend what HH says about education or you are just a blinder supporter of PF. He has repeatedly say said he wants to give every Zambian an opportunity to education and he has explained in detail how upnd would do that. What part don’t you understand? We have a lot of youths in Zambia who have brilliant ideas but alas no support from government and he is talking about support to teachers when those who need the support most are not supported.
In Zambia ni “those with power have no ideas and those with ideas have no power.” PLO Lumumba
Upnd has got no vision mr Kaiza,they are so much bitter.These chaps do not appreciate ,they are useless to them HH is more than Jesus
A failure of a lawyer/president is telling teachers to become business people.
He’s job is supposed to be making them more comfortable and successful in their profession.
Anyways this stup1d advice is not surprising given the man is dumb as a brick.
It can’t happen under PF. Maybe after 2021.
With 47000 still unemployed it makes no sense to talk of career teachers. Being entrepreneurial should also imply doing away with rigidity systems and allowing teachers to diversify their knowledges and skills
This is b…….t. Ho much are teachers paid in Zambia for them to afford mortgage? Does this guy analyze issues before exposing his tusks?
Automatic salary scale upgrade better be a reality and not a feble because the clash back it is going to cause will be felt far far beyond this God forsaken year.