Teachers Union of Malawi (Tum) has announced the suspension of the stay-away, pending resolutions of discussions between government and the union.

Speaking at press briefing in Lilongwe on Thursday morning, Tum second vice president Rehema Haridi said the suspension of the strike follows commitments by President Lazarus Chakwera during the meeting he held with the leadership of the union at Kamuzu Palace on Tuesday.

Haridi said Chakwera had made a number of commitments, including his government’s commitment to improving the living standards of the teachers.

“The President assured us that he understands that the teaching industry is one of the largest in the civil service; that as President of this country, he is committed to serving Malawians in everything and in response to the Covid-19 risk allowance, the President directed the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Response to deliberate and discuss the issue,” she said.

The union’s first vice president Bresters Nyirenda said Tum is committed to the promotion of quality education by ensuring child right to education and teachers’ welfare, as it is a catalyst and developmental partner in socio-economic development of the nation.

Nyirenda said it is in cognisance of the above that Tum has resolved to suspend the industrial action with immediate effect and that teachers should return to work while the union continues engaging authorities at the Capital Hill on their request for Covid-19 risk allowance.

Meanwhile, Tum has also requested President Chakwera to consider appointing a Tum representative as an ex-official member of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 who should be a focal person between the teachers and the taskforce.

Source:Times