More schoolchildren protest in Malawi: Chaos in Lunzu
Learners in public primary school pupils in Lunzu, the outskirts of Blantyre on Tuesday took to the streets to protest violently against a nationwide teacher’s strike.
The teachers have downed the chalk over delayed payment of leave grants and other outstanding grievances.
The schoolchildren — some as young as six years — setting tires on fire and pelting stones at cars passing by in the M1 road .
They were chanting anti-government songs :”we also want to drive vehicles one day, so no vehicle will pass here until our teachers’ strike is called off and we are back to class”.
The protesting students accused the Education Ministry of violating their right to education, because the children of politicians study in private schools, or abroad.
Some 40,000 public school teachers in Malawi began a nationwide strike last week, following the government’s failure to address several issues affecting their welfare.
“We are not returning to work until the government addresses our grievances,” Teachers Union of Malawi president Willie Malimba said.
The teachers’ union is battling with the government over 24 demands, which include failure to make salary adjustments and pay leave grants.
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe on Monday told lawmakers, who are currently scrutinizing the upcoming national budget, that Treasury has processed teachers’ leave grants for 21 districts and that funds were expected to be remitted by close of business on Monday.
Koma yaaah. Mmalo moti mukakumana muzikambilana zimenezi, muli busy kukambilana zopha anthu, kusokoneza MCP, kuba chimanga etc. Ngati muli ndi nzeru end these issues. Mmayesa muzilamula mbumba yanu eti.
Koma kumeneko , kusova kulipo Chaka chino
I abhor the use of children to achieve ones end. Children as young as six chanting anti government songs and stoning cars and burning tires. What trash. There is a politician behind all this. Granted the teachers must get theirs dues like anybody else who is owed money be it in the Private sector or public sector. Stop this use of innocent children to advance your cause. Think of these children during the time you spend basking yourself in the sun.
MBUUZI ZA MANO KUNSI ZA DPP
ZAMUNINKHA NDALAMA ZANKHANI NKHANI KALIWO KUTI
ATSOKONEZERE MCP
MMALO MOTI NDALAMAYO AKANAKWEZERA MALIPIRO WANTHU MBOMAMU !!
running government is a serious business……odatero Otcheya
Those of you expecting APM to do something on the education impulse know that you are wasting your time. Remember what happened when he was the Education Minister. I doubt very much if he understands the local education problems. This is what it means when you elect people based on tribe, region and family connections. Leaders must be elected based on issues. The man is out of touch with the masses except for his cadets. A good leader should have called for a meeting with the aggrieved parties and in no time a solution would have been fund. I for… Read more »
This is a bad sign. During the time of Joyce Banda, pupils also demonstrated in the streets of Blantyre. These little souls seem to predict something unpleasant.
Ndimadandaula kuti ndine Mlomwe. chifukwa alomwe ambirife ndife osaphunzira ndiye za school sizimatikhuza nchifukwa Chanco is closed a pulezident sizikuwakhuza, pano ndi primary teachers are on strike sizikumukhuza nthawi yomwe analinso Minister of Education chimodzi modzinso. haaaaaa mophiya mophiya. utofuna na alephere school yeee. Timangonyada ndi Mulakho za ziiiiiiiiiiiii
Sometimes one would want to laugh at the same time wants to cry, what is happening to our country Malawi? this is weird, we need a corrective and collective responsibility as a nation in order to progress
I tend to doubt the integrity of Oxford University now……you mean they could not research to see that the person they invited was a failure in education development?