Thousands of primary school teachers can finally afford a smile following the release of K2.4 billion by government to settle their leave grants and outstanding arrears.
Treasury released the funding last week just days after the teachers through their body, Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM), threatened a nationwide stay-away if their matter was not resolved by June 30.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) acting spokesperson Manfred Ndovi and TUM president Chauluka Muwake confirmed the development in separate interviews on Wednesday.
Said Ndovi: “Government released the whole amount last week through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Right now, we do not owe any teacher leave grant arrears. We are just hoping that the people responsible will expedite the payment process.”
Despite being employees of MoEST, primary school teachers’ leave grants are paid by the Ministry of Local Government through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).
The spokesperson, however, assured the teachers of smooth payment of future leave grants as government had rectified all problems that had rocked the system.
On his part, Muwake also confirmed disbursement of the money, saying it had already been transferred to district commissioners (DCs) across the country where district education managers (DEMs) will draw to pay the teachers.
Said Muwake: “Payment to teachers has not yet started, but the whole K2.4 billion, which caters for new leave grants as well as arrears that government owed the teachers, was finally released. We are now only urging the DEMs to speed up the process, they should not attempt to cling to the money in their offices.”
