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Foday Kuyateh, Western Regional Secretary of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), has called on the Government to improve salaries and overall conditions of service for teachers across the country.
Speaking in a recent media interview, Kuyateh said teachers are not earning the equivalent of US$100 per month, which he estimated at about NLe2,400, despite the important role they play in the country’s education system.
He disclosed that the SLTU has written to the Government ahead of the reopening of schools in September, requesting discussions on teachers’ salaries and other conditions of service.
According to Kuyateh, the Union wants the Government to take meaningful steps to improve teachers’ welfare, noting that some public-sector institutions pay significantly higher salaries to employees with similar academic qualifications.
He cited instances where, according to him, some government officials earn as much as NLe30,000, while teachers with degree or master’s qualifications receive considerably less.
Kuyateh therefore called on the Wages and Compensation Commission, which is responsible for determining salaries for public-sector workers, including teachers, to review the situation and address what he described as a disparity in pay.
He further noted that some teachers are leaving the classroom for better-paying jobs because of the financial difficulties associated with their profession.
Kuyateh also described the Government’s reported allocation of NLe10 per term for each school-going child as “discouraging,” arguing that greater investment is needed to improve the education sector.
He said stakeholders in the education sector are working to address concerns raised by teachers, with representatives of institutions responsible for education expected to meet before the end of August.
According to Kuyateh, the meeting is expected to produce resolutions that will subsequently be presented at a wider stakeholders’ meeting for consideration and implementation.
He maintained that the SLTU remains committed to engaging the Government and other stakeholders to secure better wages and improved conditions of service for teachers across Sierra Leone.
