LUSAKA – In a bold move to enhance efficiency in the education sector, the Zambian government has introduced a policy ensuring newly recruited teachers receive their first salaries before assuming their duties.
Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa announced the initiative during a press briefing, describing it as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to education and civil service efficiency.
Under the new system, once a teacher is hired and issued an admission letter, their details are immediately submitted to the Ministry of Finance for salary processing.
“The moment a teacher is recruited and given their admission letter, their name is sent to the Ministry of Finance, and they start receiving their salaries even before reporting to their assigned schools,” Mweetwa explained.
He emphasized that this approach reflects the government’s commitment to financial discipline and the welfare of education workers.
Mweetwa noted that the government only recruits teachers when budgetary provisions are already in place, ensuring timely salary payments.
“Unlike previous administrations, we do not hire teachers without first securing funds for their salaries. This guarantees that new recruits are paid without delays, demonstrating our prudent fiscal management,” he said.
The announcement comes as the government continues its large-scale teacher recruitment drive. After hiring 4,200 teachers earlier this year, an additional 2,400 educators will be recruited to fill vacancies created by retirements, resignations, and other factors.
Since President Hakainde Hichilema took office in 2021, the government has recruited 41,916 teachers, all of whom have been placed on the payroll without salary delays, according to officials.
What a load of nonsense whoever thought of this
Fraud it must be called. Paying someone before s/he has worked. How do economists balance that out?
In fact the headline should have read: “Zambia’s New Policy: Teachers Now BRIBED Before Reporting for Duty
Does this apply to university teachers as well? Because if I remember correctly, last year UNZA lecturers on strike for overdue pay. Even went as far as telling students NOT to come because there won’t be lecturers
Inflation will continue to rise until the USD gets to K100 but the IMF are ok with this including the higher denominations of K200 and K500 because what they want is our currency to become valueless in comparison to the USD. Shame on us for trusting these people who have now destroyed the economy almost beyond repair.
A woker is not prepaid but postpaid. You work for your money, then you get paid for the work when due after 30 days. Some policy directions smell nothing apart from a rotten tomatoes stench. It is gimmick to rekindle lost popularity.
I think it is a good initiative for teacher retention.Newly employed teachers,especially those posted to rural school face major discomfort after arriving and have spent their money on transport.Settling,advances and other allowances kick in when one is entered on payroll which can take a month.
IMagine! What if he works 50 hours overtime? Or what if he receives the money and then dissappears?
Beauty of a government panicking after non performance for 4 years and you have elections coming up next year and staring at you and you don’t know what to do.
Together with their settling allowance, it is a good move. One can afford to pay rentals and buy a bed and mattress and have something to subsist other than having nothing on first appointment.