DELAY OF SALARIES DEMOTIVATING CONTRACT TEACHERS

Sir,

It is with great disappointment and anguish that I see government can be so cruel to its own employees. As the talk of the moment is attaining First World status for Swaziland, some of us are being pushed the opposite way without anyone noticing.  

As one of the so-unfortunate contract teachers employed by the Teaching Service Commission, I would like to express my frank disappointment with the employer due to the fact that some employees resumed work on 21st of January but on the 21st of March their salaries are still due.
There is no one coming out to make even a statement as to when these teachers will be paid.

As teachers, we are adults with commitments and responsibilities.  Now if up to this time you have not been paid, how do you pay school fees for your own children? How do you buy food for you to survive, how do you subscribe to your insurance policies and other commitments you may have?

We all know teachers are expected to plan for their lessons and teach with motivation and confidence, but where do you derive the confidence when you get a call from a furniture shop reminding you that you have skipped payment for two months already so you are expected to pay three times? The day before it was a call from a clothing company still reminding you about their debt. The list goes on and we all know how hard it is for one to recover financially after December.

The only available solution becomes financial lenders but most of them have realised the business opportunity presented to them.
Now we have to incur the cost of debt funding which is so high.  Mr Editor, I know that maybe this is happening because we know we cannot complain because we always have to be cautious that we keep a clean slate for our contracts to be renewed. That means no matter how much the pressure you have from the person stepping on you, you have to put a smile on your face.

Even though we severely feel the pain of this situation, the effects will not only ripple towards our close relatives and friends but also to all the students in front of the hungry and demotivated teachers, every school day.

Concerned Contract teacher   
 
  

 

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