By Burnett Munthali
The Balaka District Council has announced plans to introduce a rural allowance aimed at motivating teachers working in remote areas. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve the quality of education in the district, particularly in underprivileged rural schools.
Balaka District Commissioner Tamanya Harawa stressed the importance of recognizing and incentivizing teachers working in remote areas. “Providing special recognition and allowances for these teachers is critical in achieving improved quality education in our district,” Harawa said during a ceremony held this afternoon.
The announcement follows an observation made during the recognition of the best-performing Standard 8 teachers in the district. It was noted that many teachers are hesitant to work in rural areas due to a lack of incentives, a situation that has negatively affected the district’s performance in national examinations.
Director of Education and Sports in the district, Saulosi Namani, revealed that the district achieved an impressive 83.33% pass rate this year, a significant improvement from last year when Balaka was among the bottom 10 districts in the country. “This event, the first of its kind in the district, is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the efforts of our teachers who have contributed to this remarkable turnaround,” he said.
One of the honorees, Dorothy Navaya from Mponda Primary School, was recognized as the district’s best-performing teacher. Navaya produced 157 A’s despite challenges such as inadequate teaching and learning materials. “This achievement is a result of hard work and dedication,” she said.
Additionally, Buke Primary School was awarded the Best Primary School in the district, while Boma Zone was named the Best School Zone. The recognition ceremony was supported by the Balaka District Council, NBS Bank, and FDH Bank.
The proposed rural allowance is expected to address disparities between rural and urban schools, improve teacher retention in remote areas, and ultimately enhance the district’s overall education standards.
