Lilongwe Covid-19: We want risk allowances, Teachers have boycotted teaching in Malawi after the reopening of schools

Lilongwe Covid-19: We want risk allowances, Teachers have boycotted teaching in Malawi after the reopening of schools. Whisper Eye Reports

Some irate teachers have vowed not to report back to schools if government in Malawi has not given them Covid-19 risk allowances before reporting back.

According to one of the teachers who opted for anonymity, told Whisper Eye correspondent in Lilongwe, Malawi that the government of Malawi ordered candidates classes to resume on Monday 7th September 2020, but some teachers have refused to report to schools.

He told us that, it is still unclear as to whether the government will consider their plea despite the call on the same.

In an interview, the irate teachers described the snub from government on the issue as an indication that they are being disregarded in society.

“We feel like being used like condoms. We are useless in the society. Every dog is bucking at us when we’re raising our issues. Its time we give chance to people who are deserving. Who feel like teachers are not at risk but prison officers and policemen,” roared the irate teacher.

He added: “the problem with other teachers is that they have reported back to attend to classes. In this way, we want to send a strong message to government that we’re at risk. I urge all teachers to snub teaching”, he explained.

He said, people have always been disregarding teachers because they don’t speak one voice, hence they don’t send a strong message to authorities.

“Look we’re faced with immense challenges in line of our duty. We live in shucks and our salaries are so scanty.

But because we accept even garbage they keep on feeding us trash. Its time that we wake up from our day dreaming and prove our relevance,” added the concerned teacher.

The issue of risk allowances for teachers have remained subject to a heated debate as other schools of thought believes teachers do not deserve the allowances.

Meanwhile, minister of education, Agnes Nyalonje, has told Journalists in Lilongwe, that the issue of risk allowances is not within her ministry’s jurisdiction.