K1 000 pay demotivates adult literacy teachers

Adult literacy instructors say they are being demotivated by the K1 000 monthly honorarium.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony of adult literacy learners at Visutso Primary School in Kasungu, some of the instructors said the money they get at the end of the month is just too low to meet their needs.

Daniel Chazema, an instructor at Mwalawamalemba in Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Mdunga, said they only get K1 000 as honorarium which he said is not enough.

“As an instructor for adult literacy, I also have needs to satisfy. K1 000 is not enough that is why sometimes the instructors abscond lessons in order to do other profitable activities,” he said.

Another instructor Bryson Banda of Jiti Adult Literacy Centre said the honorarium is a demotivating factor.

“Our colleagues who are recruited by other organisations are given K15 000 which is a bit better, but those of us recruited by government get only K1 000, this is a setback,” said Banda.

Kasungu district community development officer Bernard Chanachi conceded that the K1 000 honorarium is a setback to the instructors.

In his remarks STA Chinyama said: “I urge you women not to be discouraged by men who shun adult literacy. Let us all go for adult literacy learning and this is one way that we can develop and improve our lives.”

In Kasungu 59 percent of the women are illiterate, according to statistics.  n