Teachers Union gives govt ultimatum to promote long-serving teachers

Teachers Union of Malawi-TUM-has given government an ultimatum of 19 October, 2012 to promote long-serving deserving teachers or else the union will call for an industrial action in protest.

TUM leadership disclosed this during this year’s World Teachers Day commemoration in Lilongwe, Friday.

“The union met the State President Joyce Banda on 4th September, 2012 over the matter and we’re scheduled to meet again on the 19th this month, a meeting rated as break or make,’ TUM Secretary General, Mr. Dennis Kalekeni said.

“The issue of promotion is an outstanding one in the teaching service, to the extent that some haven’t yet been promoted despite working for more than 20, for some.”

The TUM Secretary General said the meeting on 19th October, 2012 is crucial.

“If government won’t meet our demands on promotion, then we’ll have no option but call for an industrial action, because this issue has been a thorn on our side for so long,”Kalekeni said, adding that, if teachers were to go on an industrial strike, it could bring the country to a standstill.

The issue of promotion has really generated a lot of interest among the teachers.

“If teachers are really important why is the Ministry of Education punishing us in this form of promotion, that is , promoting a teacher who has served only 4 years and leaving out a teacher who has served over 20 years. Is this logic?” a teacher who only identified himself as Innocent said.