PROTUZ urges schools to be innovative in new normal

THE Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) has called on the schools to use their industrial and home economic departments is making personal protective equipment for the themselves and the community at a fee in wake of COVID 19.

PROTUZ, Director Public Relations and International Affairs Brian Mwila said this will reduce the economic shocks on the schools in post COVID 19 period.

Mr Mwila said this in a statement issued that there is need to not only look at COVID 19 in a negative lens but also see it as an opportunity (s) for economic diversification.

 “We encourage our teacher members especially those from the departments of Industrial Arts and Home Economics to venture into the manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipment and supply to various institutions and individuals of course at a fee. This will ultimately help reduce the anticipated economic shocks in the post COVID 19 period,” he said.

Mr Mwila said teachers should take a leading role in developing entrepreur skills and live a better life in the post COVID 19 period.

He thanked the teachers for positively responding to the call on reopening of examination classes during this period of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic which the country and the world is grappling with even without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent them from catching the virus.

Mr Mwila noted that this is being a patriotic and brave response cannot go without commendation.

“We have noticed with great concern the slow pace at which government is distributing PPEs to schools for use by both teachers and pupils,” he said.

Mr Mwila commended head teachers for their efforts in ensuring that their schools meet the required minimums to have them opened for examination classes.  

 He appealed to government to expedite the distribution process of PPEs as the union continues supplementing its efforts by providing reusable face masks to teacher members.

“It should be noted that COVID 19 is not only a health issue but also an economic and social one. Since its inception, we have seen business houses closed and people being advised to observe social distance.

 No doubt, this pandemic will leave a negative impact on the socio-economic sphere of teachers and the nation at large,” Mr Mwila said.

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