Government says it will build universities in Eastern Province within three years.

Government says plans are underway to construct Universities in Eastern Province within two to three years.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo says that this is in an effort to build a noble society for teachers as they attain higher education.
Mr. Kasolo was speaking yesterday in Chipata during World Teachers’ Day celebrations held at David Kaunda Stadium.
He said in an effort to improve the wellbeing of teachers, government has entered into partnership agreements with the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and Korea to provide scholarships and university education for teachers to upgrade their profession.
Mr. Kasolo urged teachers to aspire for excellence in their profession and utilize the opportunities provided by government.
He added that government attaches great importance to the wellbeing of teachers by means of providing good accommodation, housing and rural hardship allowances to deserving teachers.
The PS also commended teachers for not condoning examination malpractices and child abuse in schools.
And Zambia National Union of Teachers ZNUT in Chipata has appealed to government to address challenges that teachers are facing.
ZNUT Chipata District Trustee, Nelly Mumba Munsanje says that a good number of teachers are not in employment.
Mrs. Munsanje added that government should settle all allowances owed to teachers and quickly normalize the payment anomalies for teachers with higher qualifications.
Meanwhile World Teachers’ Day celebrations at David Kaunda Stadium were yesterday marred with ugly scenes as teachers refused to march and made noise the time Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo was reading his speech.
The teachers were incensed by the delay by Mr. Kasolo to officiate at the event and complained of being kept for long hours before the PS showed up.
The teachers who had already marched from Shoprite to DK were asked by the Master of Ceremony, Edward Phiri to join the brass band and march for the second time to show respect to the PS but they hesitated to do so.
Mr. Phiri had to use threats that he would discipline the teachers, before they reluctantly joined the brass band in the march past.
And when time came for the PS to read the speech around 13 hours, the teachers showed no concentration as they started making noise.
This displeased Mr. Kasolo who quit reading the speech and told the teachers that it was better for him to sit down than addressing people who are not interested.
It took authorities from the Provincial Education Office to beg Mr. Kasolo to continue with his speech as they apologized on behalf of the teachers.