CBMP Analytical Report Part 1 - Transparency and Accountability ...

3.3 Government Efforts
3.3.1 New Methods
The Government of Malawi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has
initiated some efforts in the execution of teachers salaries albeit not necessarily
targeting the quick receipt of teachers salaries. For example, currently there are
efforts to decentralize the preparation of Teachers Pay-Roll so that it is prepared at
district level. While this is intended to reduce the errors being experienced currently
(e.g. names of teachers missing on the roll), it would be one of the efforts to ensure
that the pay-roll is done in time to facilitate disbursement of the cash. However, the
success of such as initiative would be based on the trust and confidence existing
among the DEM, EDM and Ministry. The higher the level of confidence the higher
authorities have in their local district counterparts, the faster the process of approval
of the pay role [which will be prepared at district level but cash will be from higher
authorities] and the faster the disbursement of funds for salaries.
In similar efforts, the MOEST has been concerned with the security of the teachers’
salaries for long. There is usually the police force escort from the office of the DEM to
the Zones to ensure that the huge sums of money reach the zones safely. However,
the risk still remains with changing times, and more cases of robbery are reported in
different sectors including incidences on teachers’ salaries. This has prompted the
MOEST to pilot the MALSWITCH system in which every teacher involved is given a
Card which is used at the Malawi Savings Bank. As explained earlier on, the
Malswitch system delays the salaries even further at present depending on the
distance of schools from the banks and the bank efficiency.
33