In 2017, the Government of Malawi adjusted upwards honoraria for the adult literacy instructors from K5, 000 to K15, 000 per month.

Deputy Director for Community Development responsible for National Adult Literacy Program, Charles Nkunga, has confirmed the development to Zodiak Online Tuesday, saying the delay to pay the arrears has occurred due to late submission of bank details by the instructors.

According to Nkunga, after adjusting the honoraria upwards, the instructors were supposed to open bank accounts for easy access of the honoraria.

"Some district councils delayed to collect and submit personal details for the instructors; hence, the delay," said Nkunga.

He said the ministry responsible for the program is currently liaising with treasury to start squaring the arrears which have now accumulated to K3.5 billion.

Meanwhile, one of the instructors in Phalombe, Handson Mambulasa, has bemoaned the delay by government to give them the money, saying government has been pledging to pay them arrears but to no avail.

Mambulasa said adjusting the honoraria upwards was a motivation in a quest to reduce illiteracy levels in the country by helping the aged and dropouts to read and write.

Government introduced National Adult Literacy Program to promote literacy and spearhead development in the country.