Elias Kamanga has warned of severe punishment against teachers that were allegedly frustrating the government policy of free education.
Mr. Kamanga said the Patriotic Front (PF) government would want to ensure that even poor people access education hence those not willing to work with it should resign.
He has since banned the sale of school uniforms from government schools and charging pupils any form of fees and contributions apart from examination fees.
He said teachers were not supposed to question government policies but should instead implement them regardless of how ridiculous they may seem to be.
Mr. Kamanga was speaking in Kitwe yesterday when he paid an impromptu visit of Miseshi basic school after receiving reports from some teachers that the head teacher at the school was exploiting pupils at the institution through unscrupulous demands.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kamanga has directed Kitwe District Education Board Secretary Benedict Kambaila to suspend the head teacher at Miseshi Basic School for mismanagement of the school.
He also directed Mr. Kambaila to ensure that the school was thoroughly audited and disciplinary action taken on anyone who will be found wanting.
He further banned conducting of extra lessons from the school premises.
Misesi school head teacher Justina Mubano and some members of staff at the institution are alleged to have been demanding payments from pupils seeking to be admitted from other schools.
The head teacher is also accused of having made it mandatory for parents to buy uniforms from the school at an inflated price.
The visibly angry District Commissioner charged that government will not tolerate teachers abusing parents who are struggling to even provide food for their families.
And Kitwe District Education Board Secretary Benedict Kambaila also expressed disappointment that teachers who were supposed to implement government policies were in the forefront frustrating them.