Govt negotiates to put intern teachers on pay roll

By SIMON MUNTEMBAGOVERNMENT says it was in negotiation with the World Bank in a bid to put intern teachers on pay roll.And minister of General Education, Dennis Wanchinga said 121 teachers were deployed to Kaputa from 2016 to 2019.He was responding to Kaputa Member of Parliament, Maxas Ng’onga, who during question for oral answer asked him how many teachers were deployed to Kaputa from 2016 to 2019.Mr Ng’onga also asked how many teachers were transferred from the district in the same period to Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces respectively.He also asked the minister whether all the teachers who were transferred from the district were replaced and if not, whether the government had any plans to replace the teachers and when the plans would be implemented.In response, Dr Wanchinga said 121 teachers were deployed in the district from 2016 to 2019.On those that were transferred, Dr Wanchinga said 91 teachers had been transferred to the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces during the years in question.He however said not all transferred teachers were replaced.Meanwhile, Dr Wanchinga said Government was planning to employ more teachers.He said government was negotiating with the World Bank to see to it that the intern teachers were put on pay roll.He explained the negotiations earmarked for recruitment were aimed at countering the effects of Covid-19 on the education sector.Dr Wanchinga said some of the teachers to be recruited would be deployed in Kaputa.