Posted Oct 05, 2009
Teachers challenged
Namwala, October, 05-ZANIS-Namwala District Commissioner Mr Wilson Siandunka has implored teachers in the District to desist from all bad vices such as excessive beer drinking that compromise their integrity.
And Zambia Nation Union of teachers [ZNUT] Provincial Chairperson Mr Belden Hamuyube said there was need for government to invest heavily in the education sector so as to develop a strong human resources base that would respond to the growing human resource needs in the country in order to achieve sustainable economic development.
Addressing handful of teachers today, who attended this year’s World Teachers Day under the Theme “build the future, invest in teachers”, ,Mr Siadunka said teachers were expected to guard against bad habits that damage their integrity.
Mr Sianduka who was disappointed at the poor turn out of teachers for the event advised teachers who were present to uphold their profession ethics all the time as they are considered as ambassadors of government to deliver on the national education policy.
“I wish to strongly advise you to adhere to your professional code of conduct and avoid bad vices such as excessive beer drinking that would damage your integrity and thus lower your profession,” Mr Siadunka said.
He also urged teachers to take seriously the in-service training programme embarked on by government in order to enhance their teaching profession thereby achieve the desired educational standards.
Mr Siandunka observed that government was committed to investing in the education sector as evidence on the school infrastructure projects such as Namwala Basic School , Neiko Girls High schools that are under construction among others been undertaken in the District.
The District Commissioner also took the occasion to appeal to teachers to report nay cases child abuse such as early forced marriages to relevant authorities.
And Mr Siadunka said government welcomes the idea of the three teachers Unions forming one Union that would look into the plight of all teachers.
But Mr Siadunka called on the teachers’ country wide to usher in Union leaders that would work closely with government to resolve teachers’ grievances more effectively.
And ZNUT Provincial Chairperson Mr Hamuyube said the call for investing in teachers now was strengthened with the need to develop a strong human resources base that would address the growing human resources needs in the country.
He said heavy investment in the education sector has economic benefits of enhancing human capabilities, thereby expanding economic opportunities that come with economic growth.
“Government has spent a lot of energy in attempts to attract Foreign Direct Investment [FDI] with the hope that citizens would benefit from jobs created by potential investors but on the other hand no commitment has been demonstrated to increase spending on teachers expected to build the human resources base,” said Mr Hamuyube.
Meanwhile, Mr Hamuyube said a number technical and administrative issues need to be addressed before one educator Union could be formed.
He, however the three teachers Unions in the country were working to form one teachers Union and strengthen the bargaining power for better conditions of service for teachers.
Ends/ZANIS/FM.