By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, June 4, Mana:  The Chairperson of Unemployed Teachers in Malawi, Wonderful Gama, has expressed satisfaction with the government's decision to recruit 26,000 primary school teachers, saying it fulfills their long-standing wish to be employed.

Speaking to the Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, Gama said the recruitment is a valuable opportunity for unemployed teachers, especially those who have been working as auxiliaries, to secure permanent positions.

He said the move will help reduce the number of unemployed teachers in the country and improve the teacher-to-pupil ratio.

“When recruiting the teachers let us ensure that there is transparency  and accountability so that those who attended the Initial Teacher Primary Education (IPTE) should get the jobs,” said Gama.

He Further said that with the number of teachers to be recruited it will give advantage for most teachers who are in rural areas to get employed as they have stayed long without being employed.

In his remarks, one of the unemployed teacher, James Sumani, said this is a welcoming development as they have been waiting for this moment.

He said it is impressive to see government intervening in ensuring that teachers who have been unemployed for so long can now get employed.

“While the unemployment rate is reduced among teachers, with this initiative the education system is also going to be improved, since education is the basis of the country’s development,” said Sumani.

This large-scale recruitment follows the promotion of 26,284 teachers from Grade TL to Grade TK across the country.