GOVERNMENT has awarded teachers a five per cent extra duty allowance.

This follows the signing of the 2012 collective agreement on the administration of extra duty allowance in the education sector between the Government and three teacher unions.

Speaking during a signing ceremony yesterday, Education, Science and Vocational Training Deputy Permanent Secretary Christine Mayondi said the agreement would be effected in retrospect from October 1 to December 31, 2012 and would, thereafter, be consolidated into the salary.

Ms Mayondi said the Government was committed to improving conditions of service for the teachers to ensure that a motivated workforce was maintained.

"The Government is very happy with the progress this process took and as such would like to thank the teachers for their patience," Ms Mayondi said.

The three unions are Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), and Basic Teachers union of Zambia (BETUZ).

BETUZ president Cosmas Mukuka said the awarding of the extra duty allowance was a step in the right direction as every teacher had extra duties.

Mr Mukuka, who was the bargaining team leader, called on the teaching fraternity to remain steadfast as the three teacher unions began the next phase of the bargaining process.

"We are hopeful that the signing will be supported by prompt implementation because as you know certain duties are outside the normal schedules for teachers like production unit, sports and guidance, etc," he said.