Teachers warned against absenteeism

The Teaching Service Commission has warned erring teachers in the country that they will instantly be dismissed once they are found wanting.
 
Teaching Service Commission chairperson Jennifer Chiwela said this warned is aimed at instilling discipline and to enhance professionalism in the education sector.
 
Ms. Chiwela said the commission was worried with the increased number of teachers absconding themselves from work, engaging themselves in sexual abuse of pupils and in drinking on duty.
 
She was speaking when she addressed some head teachers drawn from Lusaka district at Matero Girls High School.
 
This was part of the commission’s familiarization tour of Lusaka Province.
 
She implored head teachers to be mentors of both teachers and pupils if the dwindling education standards were to be revived.
 
Ms. Chiwela further implored teachers to be role models as they are a critical component in the delivery of quality education in the country.
Earlier, Lusaka District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Joe Kamoko appealed to the commission to consider revisiting the establishment of the district in order to address some of the outstanding challenges.
 
Mr. Kamoko said Lusaka district alone has over 7,000 teachers on the payroll hence having an establishment which can equal that of a entire province.
 
He said this has put his office under extreme pressure in trying to address the welfare of teachers in the district.
 
He however promised to come up with a concept paper that will be forwarded to the commission on how to address some of the outstanding cases backdating to over 30 years.