DOWA DISTRICT COUNCIL TRANSFERS OVER 400 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT

Dowa District Council has transferred about 400 teachers from semi-urban-based schools to rural-based schools.
According to Dowa District Council chairperson Mayamiko Kambewa, the transfers are in response to the poor performance of this year’s primary school living certificate examination results.
“This is part of the reforms that the council is undertaking following the poor performance in the recent primary school leaving certificate examination results.” Said Kambewa.
Kambewa said most teachers in the district were highly concentrated in urban areas due to personal reasons, thus denying children in rural-based areas their right to education.
“Most teachers wanted to be in urban areas for example Mponera 2 primary school had about 80 teachers while schools in the rural areas had an average of 3 teachers only.” Said Kambewa
Kambewa added that the decision to transfer the teachers came after an investigation that revealed that the poor performance was a result of the unequal distribution of teachers in the district.
Kambewa further said that apart from the transfers, the council has also redeployed some head teachers back to teaching after it was realized that their grades and qualifications did not meet the minimum requirements of such a post.
The council chairperson assured the teachers together with residents of the district that the council with the assistance of the central government will address some of the challenges that have been forcing teachers to flock to urban areas.
“It is true that some rural primary schools have several challenges but the council is implementing various development projects across the district to address these challenges.” Said Kambewa
The council chairperson also warned teachers who intend to defy the directive that disciplinary action will be taken against them.
“There is a disciplinary action that will be taken to those teachers that are not reporting to their new designated offices.” Said Kambewa.