By Pemphero Malimba:
At least 13,000 unemployed primary school teachers who are planning to hold mass demonstrations next month have given the Ministry of Education the leeway to engage in dialogue with them.
The teachers, who are from IPTE 14,15,16 and 17, are planning to hold demonstrations in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu on May 13 to push government to absorb them into the teaching system.
However, spokesperson for the unemployed teachers, Cornelius Mwalure, told The Daily Times that they have been invited by the ministry for dialogue on the matter.
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“Yes, I can confirm that we have been invited to a meeting with Ministry of Education officials in Lilongwe this coming Friday. As such, we, representatives of the unemployed teachers, will attend the meeting on behalf of all the unemployed teachers who have stayed at least six years without being employed by government,” Mwalure said.
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He said they would table issues surrounding their grievances during the meeting.
“Such meetings or invitations have been happening for the past years but, sadly, they [meetings] have not given us the much needed hope and results that many teachers may have opted to have. So, we are going there in anticipation that, maybe this time around, something good is going to come out of that meeting,” he said.
Mwalure said they would go ahead with their planned demonstrations if their demands are not met.
However, Ministry of Education spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera asked for ample time to consult on the issue.
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Meanwhile, Civil Society Education Coalition Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe has said the meeting is timely as it may help to solve teachers’ grievances.
“It is commendable that the Ministry of Education is actively engaging unemployed teachers to address their concerns. Indeed, the recruitment issue presents a complex challenge that requires a balanced approach between demand and available resources. Exploring alternative solutions such as temporary contracts, part-time roles or creating opportunities in related fields could provide immediate relief while the government works on securing additional resources,” Kondowe said.
He further said there is a need for government to improve the way teacher training and recruitment is done.
“Furthermore, proper alignment between teacher training and financial planning is essential to ensure that graduating teachers are swiftly absorbed into the system. This necessitates coordinating budgets and resources effectively to optimise the transition from education to employment for aspiring teachers,” he said.
Kondowe suggested the need for government to temporarily halt further training of teachers to utilise available resources for recruiting unemployed teachers.
“This requires balancing between demand and supply, especially considering the low demand for teachers in private schools.
“By prioritising the absorption of existing trained teachers, the government can address immediate employment needs without overburdening the system with excess supply,” he said.
