THE PLIGHT OF MALAWI TEACHERS IN 2021

[Limbani Nsapato]

As the world wishes a happy day to our teachers on the Occasion of
World Teachers Day 2021, most teachers may not be happy after all. I
have a list of 10 reasons a teacher in Malawi may not be happy. You
can add yours:
1) Thousands of teachers taking promotional interviews while sitting
on a dry, dusty football ground in Dedza. Where is the dignity of a
teacher?
2) Thousands of teachers promised to receive risk allowances due to
Covid 19, only for government to reverse its decision duly signed for.
Why give a teacher an empty promise?
3) Thousands of teachers teaching without necessary personal
protective equipment (PPE) to curb against Covid 19. Why put a teacher
at a health risk?
4) Government bringing about a bill in parliament limiting worker’s
right to strike, just because teachers had been on strike for more
than two weeks demanding their benefits. Why limit the rights of a
teacher to withhold labour in unpleasant conditions as a public
worker?
5) Government failing to recruit over 8000 qualified teachers under
initial training cohort (IPTE) 13 and 14, despite high demand for
teachers. Why bring despair in the life of a job-seeking teacher
despite promising 1 million jobs?
6) Thousands of teachers, waiting for another painful payday, due to
IFMIS problems. Why delay the salary of a teacher?
7) Thousands of teachers working in congested classes, where there is
shortage of teaching and learning resources, where there is no teacher
guide. Why not give a teacher his job tools?
8) Thousands of teachers, waiting for long without getting promoted,
getting refresher training? Why deny a teacher promotion and
continuous professional development?
9) Thousands of teachers lobbying for increased rural hardship
allowance without success. Why not appreciate the hardship of a
teacher working in hard situations?
10) Thousands of teachers walking long distance to and from school due
to lack of decent teachers houses near the school? Why deny a teacher
decent accommodation?
Should one, therefore, wonder why, as the day is being commemorated,
motivation is very, very low among teachers? Should one, therefore,
wonder why teachers absent themselves, involve in misconduct or flee
the profession altogether? Should one, therefore, wonder why results
of national examinations such as MSCE are not up to public
expectation?
The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2021 is “Teachers at the heart of
education recovery.” UNESCO and the caring global community calls on
governments and stakeholders to focus on teachers and the challenges
facing their profession, and to share effective and promising policy
responses. How can teachers recover from the Covid 19 pandemic, if no
one seems to care about their plight in Malawi?
If you can READ this, thank a teacher! And if you CARE, be part of the
SOLUTION to teachers’ plight.

Otherwise, best wishes to all our Teachers. You teach with pride!




Limbani Nsapato.
World Teachers Day 2021, 5th October.

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Limbani Eliya Nsapato,
Area 49, New Gulliver, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Mobile: +265 88 00 25 678
Whatsapp: +260 9 775 11250
Email: lnsa...@gmail.com
Skype: limbani.nsapato