By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema, to intervene in the debt swap saga for teachers and other public service workers.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa the debt swap saga is deteriorating and affecting some civil servants.
Mr Chansa said that in the last 25 hours teachers across the country have been shocked with government’s sudden recoveries on their pay-slips
He said this move by government has left many teachers depressed, disoriented and frustrated about this impending calamity.
“We are aware that the issue of debt swaps and debt restructuring was laced with a lot of political sentiments and perspectives, but the fact of the matter is that the facility benefited teachers and education hugely .This is because more than 90% of our teachers are heavily indebted and are finding it hard to cope with life and teaching,” he said.
Mr Chansa said however they are 100% confident that Mr Hichilema will provide guidance in the best interest of teachers and education.
“Proceeding with sudden recoveries from already impoverished teachers will spell doom for thousands of educators and their families; we would not want learners in schools to be handled by teachers who would be wounded, this could be suicidal for education,” he said.
And Mr Chansa said that if Government does not favor debt restructuring for teachers, then it should let teachers be upgraded in correct salary scales, confirm Teachers in substantive positions ,pay money it owes to teachers in various allowances and significantly increase salaries next year.
Mr Chansa reiterated the unions’ plead to President Hichilema to halt the recoveries as it will gravely injure teachers and the Education sector at large.
