Teachers demand better salary structure

The National Teachers Association of Liberia is complaining of poor salary structure for teachers, particularly in public schools.

NTAL said teachers are ready for the re-opening of schools in February but Government should revisit the salary restructure.

The Secretary General for the National Teachers Association of Liberia, Samuel Johnson, said schools in rural Liberia are not prepared for the opening of schools in February because schools there have not been renovated and benches have not fixed for the various classes.

Speaking on UNMIL Radio morning magazine, Coffee Break on Monday, January 12, Mr. Johnson said teachers in rural Liberia did not get their salary for three months, but when they finally went for their salary, one of their colleagues reportedly collapsed and died in Voinjama, Lofa County after waiting for long in the queue.

According to him, Instructor Koluba Wonnie died at the gate of Ecobank in voinjama after receiving his salary.

 Teachers on the scene, who also went for their salaries complained of spending two weeks in Voinjama, waiting on their salaries.

Mr. Johnson said those teachers were the ones who dug hole and buried their colleague, the late Wonnie.

The NTAL Secretary General said the Public Relations Officer at Ecobank denied that the teacher died in their premises, while health authorities in Lofa have launched an investigation to establish the cause of death.

 He also called on the Government of Liberia to do something about children who lost both parents to the Ebola outbreak, adding that those children have become orphans because of the deadly Ebola Virus.

He said the National Teachers Association of Liberia will meet with stakeholders to discuss salary structure for teachers, adding, the meeting will include representatives of the Ministries of Education, Health, Finance and Development Planning, and the Civil Service Agency, amongst others.
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