Malawi Teachers Demand 44% Pay Rise to Keep Pace with Inflation
The Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) Secretary General, Charles Kumchenga, made the call during the launch of the Global Response to go Public Fund Campaign on Tuesday.
Lilongwe, Malawi – Teachers in Malawi are demanding a significant pay rise to keep pace with the devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha, warning that their current salaries are insufficient to meet their basic needs and are demotivating them from performing their crucial role in the country's development, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) Secretary General, Charles Kumchenga, made the call during the launch of the Global Response to go Public Fund Campaign on Tuesday.
He argued that a minimum increase of 44% is necessary to adjust to the current economic situation.
"Teachers are the key players in the development of the country," Kumchenga emphasized. "They require motivation, and their current salaries are simply not enough."
Kumchenga further highlighted the dire state of school infrastructure, pointing out the lack of classrooms and habitable teachers' houses in many schools, particularly in rural areas.
"In urban areas, teachers often have to travel long distances due to the lack of housing at schools," he said.
"And in rural areas, the existing houses are in such poor condition that they are at risk of collapsing."
Dr. Limbani Nsapato, a researcher for Education International, echoed these concerns, adding that the rapid expansion of private and commercialized schools is exacerbating the problem of unequal access to quality education.
"Private schools charge exorbitant fees that are out of reach for most Malawians," Nsapato explained.
"This leaves poor families with no choice but to send their children to public schools, many of which are struggling with inadequate resources and infrastructure."
Nsapato also criticized the government's decision to reduce the national budget allocation for education from 25% in 2018 to 15.6% in 2023, arguing that this has had a detrimental impact on the quality of education in Malawi.
"Private schools are concentrated in urban areas where the quality of education is generally higher," he said.
"Rural areas, which lack access to private schools, are consequently left with underfunded and under-resourced public schools."
In response, Deputy Minister of Education, Nancy Chaola Mdooka, acknowledged the challenges faced by teachers and schools but argued that the government is already allocating 20% of its national budget to education.
She welcomed the Global Response to go Public Fund Campaign as a positive initiative and appealed to development partners and stakeholders to support the Ministry of Education in its efforts to improve the education system.
However, the TUM remains unconvinced that the government is doing enough. Kumchenga reiterated the union's demand for a 44% pay rise and urged the government to prioritize education funding to ensure that all Malawian children have access to quality education, regardless of their location or socioeconomic background.
The battle for improved education conditions in Malawi is far from over.
The TUM's demands highlight the urgent need for increased government investment in education, along with effective measures to address issues like teacher pay, infrastructure development, and equitable access to quality education for all.