Govt has stopped paying teachers’ salary arrears’

Teachers across the country have expressed concern that Malawi Government has stopped paying their salary arrears dating back to many years despite President Joyce Banda assuring them that her administration would expedite settling of all outstanding salary and allowance arrears.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) secretary general Dennis Kalekeni said teachers were last paid their arrears last year, saying they are wondering why government has been idle on payment of the perks which the teachers already earned.

“Government started very well to pay arrears to teachers, but of late, it has been quiet. There are still many teachers whose arrears have not been paid, but government is doing nothing at the moment,” said Kalekeni.

After failing to make headway on the issue with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology officials, TUM early this year met President Banda and asked her to intervene in ensuring that all teachers’ salary arrears are paid and that teachers get their perks on time.

Kalekeni said they will meet Education Ministry officials on April 24 to find out why the ministry is not paying the arrears and why some teachers are still waiting for several weeks to get their salaries after end of the month.

The ministry’s spokesperson Lindiwe Chide on Thursday sounded surprised that teachers are not getting their arrears, saying the ministry pays the arrears every month.

“We pay the arrears every month. I need to check whether what TUM is saying is true,” said Chide.