Classes resumed on Tuesday in public schools across the country after Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) suspended its strike which has lasted for more than two weeks.
A visit by avantmalawi to some primary schools including Mbayani and Zingwangwa In Blantyre city found lessons in progress.
However, at Chimwankhunda primary school where our reporter visited at around 8 in the morning lessons had not started despite the presence of both learners and teachers.
Headmistress for the school declined to comment on the matter.
On Monday, TUM and Ministry of Education agreed to remove the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for teachers and instead pay them an allowance to end the sit-in that teachers have been staging.
“All the discussions centred on the payment of risk allowance to teachers. A resolution was reached to consider providing teachers with appropriate
personal protective equipment (PPEs) in cash-costed package as a once-off
payment to cover for the next three months.
“This proposal will be presented for consideration to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19/ for review and approval.TUM committed itself to suspend the strike and call all teachers to resume work from March 9, 2021, while the Ministry of Education is working on modalities for carrying out the agreement or modalities,” reads the statement in part.
It is worth noting that the joint Parliamentary Committee will oversee the implementation of the resolution.
At this juncture, the Ministry of Education commends the maturity and professionalism of all primary players during the dialogue to end the strike of teachers in public schools and TTCs.
The statement further discloses that the development of the package on personal protective equipment will be done by TUM and be presented to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the Ministry.
In his words, Chairperson for TUM Willie Malimba stressed the suspension is temporal as any unfulfilled promises from the government side will call upon the RESUMING of another protest from Teacher’s