Union wants commission to unearth teachers’ problems

Teachers asked for the team of experts to investigate the reasons behind the education system being headed for major downfalls.

Speaking here yesterday, TTU deputy secretary general, Hezekiah Oluoch said teachers work under poor condition amongst all the civil servants coupled with very low wages.

He said even after their retirement, they suffer delayed benefits payment including pensions.

“Unless serious measures are taken to improve teachers’ welfare and working environment, the education system will soon be on its knees” he said.

Addressing Dodoma Municipal Teachers’ Unions women wing seminar to commemorate Women’s day, he asked for the need to give priority to women welfare to improve education status in the country.

According to him, the country’s education system was going through serious challenges which needed keen investigations to come up with clear answers affecting the sector, saying however that the government is to blame for the challenges.

Currently, the government owes teachers Sh372bn in retirement benefits for its failure to remit Sh480bn to the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) to pay teachers retirement benefits.

The government has also in most cases failed to abide by the law requiring it to beneficiaries a 15 per cent interest in addition to their rightful amount if the dues are not paid within sixty days.
He expressed hope that the new government, under stewardship of former teachers has all the reasons to end teachers’ woes, lest their plight remains forever.

“I am grateful on how the new government tackles teachers’ matters, but a lot more need to be done to ensure improved teachers services and education system in general” he said.

To ensure sustainable free education, he argued the government to disburse Sh 15,000 monthly to every primary school pupil countrywide with another Sh25,000 being disbursed for secondary school students.

He praised the new government’s initiative to instill discipline among public servant by taking disciplinary measures on those who deviate from the norms but said it should be done by following the rule of law.

“It is sad that a district commissioner can just fire head teachers simply because of poor performance in the schools……this is quite absurd because the DC is not a disciplining authority for teachers” he said.

Dodoma Municipal TTU Women wing chairperson, Pamela Chalo said the aim workshop aims to sensitize on women’s rights.