Malawi Police have fired tear gas at hundreds of learners from some public primary
schools in Blantyre on Monday took to the streets, asking authorities to
address their teachers’ grievances so that they can resume learning. The
learners blocked the M1 at near Mbayani market causing traffic jam along the
road. Some even went further by pelting stones at road users, mostly vehicles.
They were expressing their anger of teachers’ strike which
started last week.
Clad in various school uniforms, the learners from HHI,
Blantyre Girls, Ndirande-Kachere, Nyambadwe and Namiwawa primary schools put
business to a standstill as they chanted in unison: “Tikhonza bwanji! Sitikuphunzira!!
[How are we going to pass examinations when we are not learning! ].
The learners, aged between eight and 14, sang songs
demeaning the Democratic Progressive Party
administration while demanding that they immediately go back to school
where teachers had abandoned chalk unless government pays everyone their leave
grants.
Police fired teargas at the learners, saying the protests were unlawful because no prior
permission had been granted.
There were no reports of serious injuries.
Opposition members in Parliament (MPs) took government to
task over the issue, saying delaying the process of payment will affect most
learners, some of whom are set to write their Malawi School Certificate of
Education (MSCE) examinations starting this month end.
Making his comment on the proposed 2017/18 National Budget
on Friday, MP for Dowa East Richard Chimwendo-Banda (Malawi Congress Party-MCP)
asked government to explain what had been done to resolve the strike.
He described the situation as pathetic and cautioned
government that it is sitting on a time bomb as people are tired with what is
happening.
Green Muheya -Nyasa
Credit: Green Muheya -Nyasa
Green Muheya -Nyasa
Green Muheya -Nyasa
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