The Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) President Mr Abdulai B. Koroma has urged government to give to teachers what was meant for teachers.
The SLTU President and executive have just completed their first visit to some parts of the provinces after his election as president of the teachers union.
In Bo where he started his visit last week, teachers shut down schools and dressed in white, they marched through the streets of Bo to the City Council hall to welcome their President and his executive.
The president Mr Abdulai B.Koroma whilst addressing the teachers told them he was impressed with the uniformity exhibited by them in Bo district. Head teachers sat upright in their chairs when the President mentioned about school subsidy. He told them that they have been starved since third term last academic year and through first to third term this academic year, as they have been running the schools with empty pockets. He however informed them that government has agreed to give school subsidies for only first term but was not specific when the ones for the other terms would be paid.
Mr Koroma explained to them that the reason government did that was the global crisis and other conditionalities by the International Monetary Fund. He stressed that “what is meant for teachers should be given to them”.
He also described the conditions of service for teachers as appalling and informed them he had negotiated with the former (SLPP) government who had made honest promises to them but pegged the outcome on the general elections. When they approached the new government he said they were told (APC government) that they were new.
Mr Koroma informed the teachers that the education minister was contesting the number of teachers and school children in their schools. He therefore admonished them to be careful and make sure that their record books were in order.
He discussed with them about teachers identity cards, social security status, discipline among them and their attitudes in exam halls.
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