By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, December 12, Mana: There was dancing and jubilation at Balaka Primary School Wednesday when Balaka District Council through the District Education Office awarded 167 outstanding teachers for their outstanding performance during the 2023 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PSLCE).

During the function, 17 outstanding schools which registered 100 percent pass rate were also recognized and awarded for their remarkable performance.

Speaking during the function, District Commissioner for Balaka, Tamanya Harawa said the initiative aims at promoting quality education in the district.

He, therefore, challenged all teachers in the district to dedicate themselves to the noble course for the district to always produce good results.

Harawa, disclosed that the council will continue to support the education sector by ensuring necessary resources were available in both rural and urban schools.

"Depending on the resource envelope, we may also expand the rural allowance initiative so that those teachers working in these hard-to-reach areas are motivated. I would like to find ways in which we can intensify this,” he disclosed.

“When one is working and doing better, rewards are important as they act as an encouragement for the awardees to do more, it also motivates those not doing well to push harder.

“For the past years Balaka has been at the bottom ten of poor performing districts, but I am glad that last year we registered an improvement which is encouraging and looking forward to do more,” he added.

Harawa, therefore, cautioned teachers to be exemplary and exception, noting that the council will not tolerate misconduct and absenteeism, adding that the council will discipline anyone on the wrong side if the law.

“This is the beginning of these awards which will be done yearly, we will put this in our annual budget which will vary from one year to another, we are also happy that our partners such as NBS Bank and other non-governmental organizations have expressed interest to assist us during these events,” he said.

The money received during the function varied depending on the number of distinctions a teacher produced in a subject, but the highest smiled all the way to the bank with K235,500 with each best performing school receiving K50,000.

One of the awardees, Dorothy Naveya from Mponda Primary School, who was awarded as the best teacher who produced 157 distinctions in Chichewa, expressed gratitude for the council's decision, noting that it will inspire teachers to work hard.

“Mostly, I was encouraging the learners to read a lot and I was also doing make up classes so that I finish up the syllabus and start revisions so that the learners are reminded of what they have been learning,” he said.