By: Ilyasa Baa
The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has issued out a clarion call on teachers to be in the classroom throughout the 21 days period.
According to the Commission, negotiations are ongoing between the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU) and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The Commission has said the 21 days’ notice issued by the Union does not translate that teachers should avoid their job.
It states that fruitful discussions are on the table noting that they are concerned over the welfare of all teachers in the country.
The Public Relations Manager of TSC, Jammie Victory Sankoh told this medium that it is hoped that an amicable solution will be reached.
She said after receiving the 21 days notice, the Commission promptly issued out a release encouraging teachers to be in the classroom.
However, the SLTU is asking for 195% increment in total for the 36,000 teachers on government payroll.
The total number of teachers in the country is estimated at 82,000 with about 35,000 still volunteering and 37% only have the required training skills to teach.
Government has trained 24,000 teachers. Recently, 250 Vice Principals were promoted to the position of Principal across the country.
It could be recalled that the government had given three weeks to study the fifteen chapter document and it was resolved that teachers would render their services especially to the ongoing WASSCE.