The Secondary School Teachers Union (Sestu) has asked Parliament to facilitate introduction of professional allowance, revise rural hardship allowance and consider housing allowances or teachers’ accommodation.
In a letter to Parliament dated March 17 2026, Sestu general secretary Druwen Frank Moyo said the allowances would match other professional sectors that access professional allowances.
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He said the demands, if implemented, would also align with the Teachers Council establishment under the Education Act (2013) Section 23.
Said Moyo: “We subscribe to the council and pay for teaching licenses, demonstrating our commitment to professionalism. Other professional sectors do access professional allowance.
“Revise the Rural Hardship Allowance [currently K10 000/month since 2012] considering 14 years of devaluations and inflation. We believe the lack of review for all these years has displayed great inhumanity towards the teaching profession…”
On housing allowance, he argued that while schools receive new facilities, teachers often lack decent accommodation, contrary to Section 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to dignity.
He also pleaded for a reasonable salary revision for teachers to cope with the current economic status, particularly during the 2026/27 financial year.
In an interview yesterday, Link for Education Governance executive director Limbani Nsapato said while the demands for improved conditions for teachers are justified, the call should be for all teachers as well as the general public civil service given the prevailing economic conditions.
“This requires substantial investment in the social sectors. Hence there is need for parliament, and the ministry of finance to seriously consider the request, since unmotivated public servants may not be able to deliver to their best,” he said.
On his part, Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe said failure to introduce a professional allowance diminishes the status of teaching as a regulated profession.
In the proposed K10.9 trillion 2026/27 National Budget currently being debated in Parliament in Lilongwe, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha said K1.28 trillion was allocated to the education sector, representing 11.7 percent of the total budget.
He said government introduced free primary and secondary education to increase equitable access to education and provide a fair chance to access knowledge to all the pupils regardless of their socioeconomic background.
