By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia and DMI Saint Eugene University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see teachers’ access education programs at a 25% discount.
Assistant Director for Standards James Chomba, who represented Education Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba said it is important for the unions to facilitate such programs so that the country can achieve a quality education system.
Mr Chomba said the New Administration has made it clear that they are determined to eradicate all barriers that hinder progress of learners.
“I want to urge Teacher Unions to emulate what SESTUZ has done to enable more teachers to upgrade their qualifications and enhance the sector,” he said.
And SESTUZ General Sitibekiso Wamuyuwa said the initiative will enable more teachers upgrade their qualifications and skills with the aim of improving their contribution to the education sector.
“The union understands that learning is expensive thus making it is hard for many to upgrade their qualifications, it is voluntary but a necessity in improving the education sector, I am also confident that teachers will be paid according to their qualifications,” he said.
Mr Wamuyuma has called on Government to put incentives that will see more teachers venture into Mathematics, Science and Business administration so that the pupil teacher ration can be reduced, adding that Government should not to abandon STEM Schools.
And DMI saint Eugene, President Thomson Ananth said the partnership between the university and teacher unions is a logical way to grow the sector by extending education to educators.
