Low pay of teacher's in government schools cause for poor performance

By Correspondent

Secondary school teacher

Poor performance exhibited by government secondary schools is because the teachers are not well compensated nor are their benefits sufficient.

 

With that understanding, the government has pledged to pay teachers all their due payments as the basis to improving performance in government schools.

 

Remarks to that end were aired yesterday at a meeting that brought together 29 secondary school teachers from Meru District in Arusha Region by the Meru District Executive Director Dustan Mallya.

 

Lamenting the fact that not a single government school was on this year’s top ten list the DED pledged:

 

“We will pay all the teachers their due arrears,” and promised “…we will pay all debts owed to you before by next year.

 

Acknowledging that the teaching ability of instructors in government schools is exceptional, Mallya lamented the fact that most of the well performing students in private schools are tutored by teachers from government schools.

 

“So we know our teachers are good…” he reasoned and went on to assure them that “…I don’t have a problem with your teaching abilities.”

 

“However, we should ask ourselves why private schools perform better than government schools,” he challenged his colleagues.

 

With the query posed, Mallya went on to reassure the gathered teachers of government’s commitment to better their payment structures and systems as well as improves their benefits packages.

 

 “We understand that the better your welfare the better your work delivery,”  Mallya reassured the teachers.

 

Mallya said that he is aware of challenges the schools are facing including lack of laboratories and other basic resources. 

 

“I am aware that the government policy requires every secondary school to have laboratories, but presently we don’t have enough funds for it…but this shouldn’t be reason for poor performance,” he cautioned.

 

The DED also told the teachers that any secondary schools in Meru municipal that shall improve its performance will be awarded incentives as motivation to do better and recognition of efforts exhibited.

 

He was also keen to advise the government school teachers to seek further education and trainings noting that in the modern world of everyday technological advances, it is vital that they stay up to par with improved teaching methods and materials.

 

The development comes as poor performance of government schools in this year’s Form Six national examination results continues to draw countrywide criticism and blames, mostly hurled towards teachers and school principals.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN