Malawi teachers give mixed feelings on pay hike

There has been mixed feelings from Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) on the salary hike of civil servants from the initially proposed 24.4 percent to an average of 45 percent, as they are not happy with the increment which has favoured top bosses but were consoled with substantial increment to secondary school teachers.

In a circular announcing the pay hike released on Tuesday and signed by the director of administration in the Department of Human Resource Management, Hilary Chimota, government announced that the lowest paid civil servants’ salary will jump from gross monthly salary of K12 000 to K41 000 representing a 35 percent increase.

The development means that the lowest paid teacher will now be getting a gross monthly salary of K41 000.

TUM general secretary Denis Kalekeni said the majority of teachers were “hugely disappointed” because they have been offered the lowest percentage.

A primary school teacher at Grade L which in teaching service is called grade PT4 (entry point) has been given 35 percent with Grade K (PT3) getting 37 percent.

The offer is below the 52 and 70 percent which government has given to those on Grades J and I, respectively.

Kelekeni said the distribution of the percentage has been “appalling “.

He accused government of favouring the upper grade and “sidelined and discriminated against majority of the teachers who, if we combine those on Grade L and K that have received the lowest, form more than 75 percent of the entire teaching service in the country.”

According to the circular, the highest increment is on Grade A which has seen a 75 percent increase and its beneficiaries include the Chief Secretary and other heads of public service and their salaries have shot from K13 211 328 per annum to K23 012 700.

But TUM consolation is on to teachers in secondary schools who have received a substantial increment with degree holders (Grade I) getting 70 percent and diploma holders in Grade J receiving 52 percent.

According to Centre for Social Concern, the basic needs basket for a family of four ranges between K113 000 and K130 000 per month.