Teachers have started a national wide sit-in over unpaid December salaries.

Over 5,000 teachers from public schools were removed from the government payroll for failure to submit their National Identity Cards to the relevant authorities.

In Lilongwe scores of teachers have converged at Lilongwe District Commissioner’s (DC) offices demanding their December salaries.

The angry teachers, who are holding vigils, say government is busy playing a blame game on the salary issue.

Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) President Charles Kumchenga said the teachers will not leave the DC’s premises until their salaries are settled.

In a letter dated January 17, 2020 addressed to TUM Secretary General, Secretary for Education, Science and Technology Justin Saidi expressed hope that payment of salary arrears would commence on January 21, 2020.

“Councils have been given 19 January, 2020 to submit processed arears to the Accountant General for cheques processing. It is therefore expected that pay parade will commence on 21 January, 2020,” reads the letter in part.

Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe has backed the move by the teachers highlighting that teachers have been taken for granted for so long.