BETUZ SLAMS SALARY INCREMENT

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI THE Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) says the recent salary increment is a mockery to civil servants considering the prevailing economic situation in country.

And BETUZ has appealed to government to speed up the recruitment process of teachers to reduce teacher pupil ratio.

BETUZ Solwezi district chairperson Davious Kutela said the 9 percent offer will have no positive impact on the living standards of the people because it was too low.

He said there was need for government to adjust the Increment upwards than what has been offered.

“The current offer by government is too low, and therefore government should revisit this,” Mr Kutela said.

The BETUZ district chairperson was speaking during this year's World Teacher's Day which was commemorated under the theme “Teaching in Freedom Empowering Teachers".

He said government should at least revisit the salary increment as the price of most essential commodities had increased prices every month.

“So, leaving salaries static for a long time is a very big challenge for civil servants,” Mr Kutela said.

And Mr Kutela has appealed to government to speed up the recruitment process to cushion the shortage teachers in the country.

He further appealed to address the erratic funding from government for personal emolument in the ministry of General Education.

And speaking when he graced the event, Teaching Service Commission chairperson Stanley Mhango urged teachers to adhere to the terms and conditions of the teaching service.