EDITORIAL: Improving teachers' welfare is a collective effort

Senators have called for more initiatives to boost teachers’ welfare as part of efforts to improve the quality of education in the country. The senators also called for allocation of more funds to the sector. The issues were raised during a consultative meeting with education stakeholders to find ways of boosting the quality of education in the country, last week. The world over, teachers are among the least paid professionals, but for Rwanda, several initiatives have been put in place to improve the welfare of teachers despite the prevailing challenges. Over the years, teachers’ salaries have been revised by government and several initiatives like rewarding best performing teachers have been undertaken. Under the Umwalimu sacco, teachers are also able to access credit at low interest rate to engage in income generating activities to supplement their pay. From such initiatives, success stories of teachers who have built own homes and flourishing businesses have emerged. This is an example of how teachers can supplement government efforts to improve their welfare. Salary can never be enough to meet all the needs of the teachers. That is why teachers must be innovative to supplement their salaries through small income generating projects. The rising cost of living is affecting everyone including teachers. Like any other person trying to make ends meet, teachers should venture into other activities outside school time. A resume of a teacher should include subsistence agriculture and running businesses like groceries. However, this should not be done at the expense of teaching. No teacher should abscond from teaching to attend to other engagements because teacher absenteeism is a threat to the success of education. Teachers should engage in such activities during their free time, and not during school time.

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EDITORIAL: Improving teachers' welfare is a collective effort