Education managers violating teachers’ rights

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Watipaso and granny in Lilongwe in February, 2010

Deputy Minister of Education responsible for Basic and Secondary School, Wictor Songazaudzu Sajeni, on Wednesday could not hide his displeasure with some education managers who he accused of violating the rights of fellow workers and turning lives of teachers miserable.

Speaking after visiting offices of South West Education Division (Swed) offices in Blantyre, Sajeni stated that the ministry was aware that some bosses in the education sector that deliberately close doors to teachers who want to raise concerns thereby demotivating the staff.

“Some education managers and manageresses literary shout at a teacher who comes into their office to raise a concern [of some sort]. What picture are you giving to your juniors?” he asked.

“Let us be humble and respectful to those we’ve been employed to serve. We are where we are because there are people we’ve been employed to serve; so let us give them the respect they deserve,” said Sajeni.

Earlier, the deputy minister appealed to the teachers and education managers to stop living in what he described as “perpetual misery and complaints” and, instead, dedicate themselves to work saying education is the engine for future development of the country.

In her speech, Swed Education Division Manageress (EDM) Sr. Eunice Dambo highlighted a number of challenges impeding the growth of education in her area of jurisdiction.
Among others, Dambo said the current budgetary allocation her division gets from the Ministry of Education was not enough to cater for all its activities in a year besides the usual problems of shortage of teaching staff, classrooms and lack of teachers’ houses in schools.

“Our budget ceiling falls far short of our activity plans. We would like to appeal to the ministry to consider increasing the allocation to meet our [educational] needs,” prayed Dambo.

At the same meeting, Member of Parliament for Blantyre City East John Bande asked the Ministry of Education to consider extending the newly introduced hardship allowance to urban areas saying “teaching profession is one whether you’re in rural or urban school”.

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