By Staff Writer
Chingola District has awarded 343 hardworking teachers during this year’s world teacher’s day celebration as way to motivate them.
The teachers who joined the rest of the country in celebrating teacher’s day included the newly recruited teachers who danced to different melodies to express joy of having employment.
And Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) Provincial Coordinator Clara Mumba said that the union in the district appreciates the constantly funding and increasing of salaries by 12 percent.
Ms Mumba also highlighted the few concerned that the union has noted that when it comes to promotions senior members of the teaching fraternity are left out.
She also said members whose pay point is not in peri-urban but operates in peri urban should be attented to accordingly so that they can access rural hardship allowance.
Ms Mumba said that the members who are in skills training centers have continued to get salaries not commensurate to their status .
She said other concerns are that members are subjected to receiving entitlements that are contrary to the collective agreement and it is the desires of the unioin to see industry harmonisation.
“Some of our members have misconducted themselves in isolated cases a situation that has concerned as a union, and we will do what is right as a union,” she said.
And Nchanga Member of Parliament who was the Guest of Honor Derrick Chilundika said he was delighted at the good performance at all levels of examination, vis a vis grade 9 internal, grade 12 and not forgetting grade 9 external and GCE as was recently announced by the minister of education.
Mr Chilundika said for the district to continue doing well, teachers should continue working in collaboration with one another in unity so that these milestones can be celebrated together.
He said government will continue doing everything possible so that the team remains motivated, by meeting the various challenges that were highlighted.
“My office through the district education board secretary’s office, the team is working very hard to confirm, upgrade and promote all the deserving and hardworking personnel which is a commendable job. This will lead to a more productive team and result in improved academic and vocational results especially for this year and years to come,” he said.
Mr Chilindika, who is also Luapula Province Minister, said this year’s theme ‘The transformation of Eduction begins with teachers’ is directly encouraging us to work hard and change the lives of our learners for a better tomorrow so that they could become responsible citizens who would contribute immensely to the growth of our nation Zambia.
And Chingola District Education Board secretary Noah Simalunga said that the district is working hard toward the betterment of teachers and motivating hence the awarding of 343 teachers in the district.
He said that teachers are an intergro part and drivers of any social economic transformation.
The momentum event was attended by Chingola Mayor Johnson Kango’mbe, District Commissioner Raphael Chimupi, Chingola Town Clerk Kalufyanya and other head of department.