‘Bring us sex-for-jobs evidence’
The education ministry says there is nothing wrong with people making allegations, provided they back it up with evidence.
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp has urged those making allegations of education inspectors and senior officials requesting sex, money or cattle from desperate, unemployed graduates in exchange for positions, to back this up with evidence.
She was responding to allegations made by All People’s Party (APP) secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu at a media conference in Rundu on Tuesday.
“There is a serious drama that is also shameful taking place around here, where teachers’ recruitment processes have become a business to the inspectors and school principals,” Kanyetu said.
“We are informed how people are paying cattle for employment and some cash or otherwise sex for employment.
“One teaching post will have 500 people shortlisted and interviewed. What a joke is this? Why are we fooling our people? Why are we wasting the time of our people and their resources, why?” Kanyetu asked.
No evidence
Kanyetu said once he has evidence, it will be provided to the relevant authorities.
Steenkamp, however, did not take Kanyetu’s claims lightly, saying it is regrettable that such statements are being made without a response being sought from her office.
“In Kavango East, we have not had any allegation in this matter being reported to our office and, therefore, it will remain an allegation,” she said.
“Secondly, in Kavango West, we did receive an anonymous letter and we have sent an investigating team. It was found that the allegations were truly unfounded and that there was no evidence to the effect of an education inspector or an education officer requesting either livestock, money or sex for positions.
“It is imperative for the ministry of education, arts and culture that when we do receive complaints in specific allegations, even if they are anonymous, we always look at the merit of the case and we treat it as something very serious that warrants an investigation,” Steenkamp said.
Back it up
Steenkamp said there is nothing wrong with people making allegations, provided they back it up with evidence.
“In this case it was unfounded; it was really a waste of resources, and if this is happening, I am sending a strong caution that if people have evidence, I insist that they present us with it so that we can follow the necessary grievances procedures.
“We will not at any moment tolerate any person within the public service appointed by the ministry to misuse his or her power and to be engaging in fraudulent activities.
“We have a very good track record as a ministry that we investigate our matters and we bring our disciplinary hearings to conclusion, but it is very sad that in this country somebody can make such a sweeping and unfounded allegation,” Steenkamp said.
“If they are man enough, they will submit evidence to my office and we will take the matter further, as we did in the past.”
[email protected]
RUNDU
Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp has urged those making allegations of education inspectors and senior officials requesting sex, money or cattle from desperate, unemployed graduates in exchange for positions, to back this up with evidence.
She was responding to allegations made by All People’s Party (APP) secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu at a media conference in Rundu on Tuesday.
“There is a serious drama that is also shameful taking place around here, where teachers’ recruitment processes have become a business to the inspectors and school principals,” Kanyetu said.
“We are informed how people are paying cattle for employment and some cash or otherwise sex for employment.
“One teaching post will have 500 people shortlisted and interviewed. What a joke is this? Why are we fooling our people? Why are we wasting the time of our people and their resources, why?” Kanyetu asked.
No evidence
Kanyetu said once he has evidence, it will be provided to the relevant authorities.
Steenkamp, however, did not take Kanyetu’s claims lightly, saying it is regrettable that such statements are being made without a response being sought from her office.
“In Kavango East, we have not had any allegation in this matter being reported to our office and, therefore, it will remain an allegation,” she said.
“Secondly, in Kavango West, we did receive an anonymous letter and we have sent an investigating team. It was found that the allegations were truly unfounded and that there was no evidence to the effect of an education inspector or an education officer requesting either livestock, money or sex for positions.
“It is imperative for the ministry of education, arts and culture that when we do receive complaints in specific allegations, even if they are anonymous, we always look at the merit of the case and we treat it as something very serious that warrants an investigation,” Steenkamp said.
Back it up
Steenkamp said there is nothing wrong with people making allegations, provided they back it up with evidence.
“In this case it was unfounded; it was really a waste of resources, and if this is happening, I am sending a strong caution that if people have evidence, I insist that they present us with it so that we can follow the necessary grievances procedures.
“We will not at any moment tolerate any person within the public service appointed by the ministry to misuse his or her power and to be engaging in fraudulent activities.
“We have a very good track record as a ministry that we investigate our matters and we bring our disciplinary hearings to conclusion, but it is very sad that in this country somebody can make such a sweeping and unfounded allegation,” Steenkamp said.
“If they are man enough, they will submit evidence to my office and we will take the matter further, as we did in the past.”
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