Be pro-active, teachers’ unions told

By SANDRA MACHIMA TEACHERS unions have been asked to promote the welfare of their members and improve standards of education in Zambia, National Action for Quality Education in Zambia executive director Aaron Chansa.

Mr Chansa said teachers needed improved salaries, good accommodation and reasonable allowances for them to perform well.

“As the world celebrates the importance of teachers this week, it is important for the relevant authorities to critically and practically overcome the many challenges affecting teachers in Zambia and the sector as a whole,” he said.

Mr Chansa said his organisation was concerned over the deteriorating economic status of teachers in Zambia, especially those in private schools, adding that teachers were important in lives and deserve greater support from government and the wider society.

He noted that speeches had been and would be given on that day but less action was always taken to improve conditions of service for teachers.

“Many of our teachers today, especially those working in private schools, are living in poverty, despite working hard.”

He expressed concerns about how poorly the teachers were being represented by their unions, adding that complaints had been on how unions have terribly failed to represent teachers on many matters.

“We can only appeal to all the teachers in the country to demand better services from unions or completely withdraw their membership from these moribund organisations.

Mr Chansa urged teachers to take their unions to task to account for the monthly subscriptions and make them accountable and transparent, noting that unions were formed for the sole purpose of representing the interests of members.