Government says it will recruit 10, 000 teachers who graduated last year plus 9, 000 who are yet to graduate from the country’s training colleges, making a total of 19, 000 teacher.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Chief Secretary to the Government, George Mkondiwa, on the sidelines of a press briefing on the progress of the Public Service Reforms.

He said that Treasury had now released funds for the teachers’ salaries hence, recruitment could be effected.

“Even though there were some vacancies in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology we could not recruit the teachers without money to pay them,” said Mkondiwa.

“But since we now have the funds from Treasury, all the 19,000 teachers will be absorbed into the system this year.”

Earlier, Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima, who is also the Chairperson for the Public Service Reforms Commission noted that the situation in the education sector had improved such that teachers were now receiving their pay on time through banks unlike before.

He said this was due to the reform initiative that saw decentralization of salary payment to the zones and that shortly payment would be done at district level.

“As a result of this reform teachers no longer have to travel long distances to get their salaries,” said Chilima, adding, “The next reform area in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is to improve quality education by taking teachers through to getting a University Teaching Certificate program and upgrading primary school teachers to diploma level among others things.”

Chilima, who outlined a number of achievements under the public service reform program, assured the public that the reforms were working and that they were there to stay.

“We have seen commendable progress in all ministries that signed Performance Contracts with the President,” said Dr Chilima.

“These contracts will also help to fast track the implementation of the reforms now that the ministries have set targets to achieve.

Meanwhile, President Mutharika has extended the Public Service Reform Commission’s mandate with one year up to June 2016.mana