Politics not for teachers, theirs is teaching - Free Advice From An Online Editor

Zambia - WE ARE in total agreement with the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia’s (PROTUZ) hard-line stance that its members should leave politics alone. PROTUZ general secretary Albert Muyembe said on Friday that the union is concerned by President Lungu’s recent revelations that some government school teachers were involved in partisan politics. Mr Muyembe’s word to his union membership is not only professional but also sagacious. We say so because teachers are more likely than not to be compromised in their service delivery if they participate in partisan politics, which would ultimately negate their profitability to the communities they serve and their educational calling. It is common knowledge that teachers, like other public service workers, serve communities with varying political party membership and inclinations. In their communities, there are those who are Patriotic Front (PF), those who are United Party for National Development (UPND) and indeed those who associate themselves with other opposition political parties. To break it down, their pupils are children of these people of various political inclinations and they would be ineffective in their teaching role if their political biases begin to creep into their work. Teachers should also realise that they mean a lot in our society. They represent leadership. In short, these partners in development are leaders just like political leaders. Their influence is far-reaching. The things they teach or say in front of their pupils transcend the borders of academic life. Many times, pupils relay what they hear from them to their parents, some of whom illiterates, or semi-literate, who take it as gospel truth. If they are told to hate a particular party and love another, their pupils will most likely do that alongside their undiscerning parents, since they, as learners, are naïve and thus gullible on many socio-political issues. No word should be minced in warning teachers of the personal consequences as well as social consequences of their partisanship in politics. For the head of State to voice it out, it means the problem is serious and requires urgent and firm action from stakeholders they directly associate with as well as those they indirectly relate with such as the media. We echo the warning that teachers in Zambia have heard many times that once caught doubling as political cadres, they may lose their jobs, which many people envy them for. And they need to understand that some of the people who envy their jobs are qualified teachers. It is not possible for them to be teachers or civil servants and still be political cadres. The two, here in Zambia and many other parts of the world, do not go hand in hand. We also know that when teachers become politically-involved, the much needed ingredient in effective and proper service delivery called unity begins to wane. We want remind teachers that belonging to different political parties is a sure recipe for division, which breeds confusion. And the people to suffer the most are pupils and their communities. PROTUZ warned its members that politicians cannot fight for their re-instatement if they lose their jobs. Why should you lose your jobs for the unwise choice of being partisan? Teachers, please, stick to what makes you relevant in society – teaching. In case there are those that want to be politically active, the only way, unfortunately, is for them to leave the teaching profession and join politics. This must be a straightforward lesson for the teachers.