CSEC STATEMENT ON THE ONGOING STAY AWAY BY TEACHERS AND LECTURERS IN TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES

Release: Lilongwe, 7th April, 2021.

The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) wishes to express its deep concerns over the gross failure by government to resolve the ongoing stay away. We note with regret that recent numerous engagements between government and its agencies and the Teachers Union of Malawi have not yielded any positive results to avert the prospective dire consequences of the stay away. Rather, parties involved in the negotiations have not acted in good faith thereby undermining the principles of respect and honesty in any successful dialogue.

The above developments are greatly hurting that students and parents, especially those from poor households as well as the education system at large. In the state that our education system is already, it is unimaginable that more strain could be allowed to be put on it. In fact, it is a reality that impairs the aspirations of both the present and future generations. It is both a commission and omission that the leadership must be firmly held to account.

We, at CSEC, wish to remind government that it has the constitutional obligation to promote, protect and fulfil the right to education, and failure to do so will be abdication of this noble duty. Section 25 (1) of the Constitution of Malawi entitles everyone to education. Although the human rights, including the right to education can be limited under section 44 of the Constitution of Malawi, we however, contend that the present circumstances fall short of meeting the standards set out for lawfully limiting human rights. We also contend that teachers have a duty to uphold its professionalism by having regard to the interest of the students.

It is for the foregoing that we, at CSEC, implore government once again to rise up to the occasion to provide concrete direction of resolving the stand-off to facilitate continuity of teaching and learning. We share the view by Jelani Cobb that, “In the ideology of school closure, though, the lines of responsibility – of blame, really – run inward.” This is particularly the case because our Constitution of Malawi places the duty on the State to promote, protect and fulfill the right to education. As such, it is a legitimate expectation of all Malawians of good will that government commits to diligently and expeditiously discharge such an obligation placed on it.

Recognizing the harm that the continued stay away would cause to the education sector, CSEC wishes to urge government that it is better late than to do nothing about the plight of our students in the public schools. CSEC rejects actions by the two parties that see education crumble in their face without responsibility. In view of this, we demand the following:

1. That the meeting between government and TUM that is set for tomorrow should fully resolve the end of the stay away latest by Friday, 9th April 2021.
2. That both government and TUM should consider allowing the involvement of mutually accepted third parties in the negotiations to give credence to the process.
3. That should the tomorrow’s meeting not yield a positive result, CSEC will from next week convene regional meetings in the north, centre and south with parents, students and all Malawians of good will to plan for national wide demonstrations.
4. That CSEC will not hesitate to use all other lawful means at its disposal as guaranteed under the Laws of Malawi in defense of the interests of the students. This includes seeking remedies from the courts as circumstances might dictate.

We, at CSEC, in furtherance of our mandate, anticipate that both parties will place the best interest of the child as key to all decisions that affect them.