Teachers on 730 days' sick leave
Sick leave, for up to two years, has been unearthed in the education ministry's hunt for so-called ghost teachers.
Investigations into the payroll of the education ministry in all 14 regions have uncovered embezzlement of state funds and a lack of action when it comes to teaching staff on prolonged sick leave.
In some cases it was found that staff were consistently on leave since 2016 and still receive a full salary.
In speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Anna Nghipondoka, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, told Oshana regional education managers, supervisors and other role players at Ongwediva on Tuesday that there was a lack of action when it comes to prolonged sick leave.
Hanse-Himarwa also highlighted administrative shortcomings that were discovered during the payroll verification exercise that was conducted by the ministry and said the compilation of the investigation reports have been completed.
According to her, investigations discovered there is a lack of action from all role players including the heads of schools, education inspectors and human resources when it comes to staff members who are on prolonged sick leave.
“We have noticed cases of staff members who are on sick leave as far back as 2016 but are still receiving a full salary.”
Hanse-Himarwa said in some instances cases are reported through available channels for action to be taken, but that no action had been forthcoming.
In other instances cases are never reported by the principal or school management.
“Such tendencies are uncalled for and they negatively impact on the teaching and learning process and ultimately the biggest losers in this situation are the learners. On the same score the handling and recording of all types of leaves really require better control.”
The investigations further uncovered damning evidence regarding the embezzlement of state funds by some staff members of the ministry in three regions.
“I want to inform you that we have instituted the relevant disciplinary measures against such staff members and at the same time opened criminal cases against the alleged offenders.”
Hanse-Himarwa cautioned staff to be vigilant and to report any suspicious actions.
According to her the financial management department with the assistance of the office of the director must implement pay sheet control as a matter of urgency.
“The office of the director must compel all school principals to return all pay sheets for the purpose of pay sheet control to be implemented and the director must be provided with a monthly pay sheet control report. In that way, we will be able to eliminate dubious salary payments in the ministry.”
Hanse-Himarwa said equally education inspectors and senior education officers should intensify and coordinate school visits across the entire region.
“While this might have a huge financial burden at a time that we want to cut costs, the regional management committee must formulate a practical and efficient plan that will culminate in the realisation of programme quality assurance services members visiting school more intensely.”
She said the ministry should also strengthen supervision in all the schools in order to ensure that constructive teaching and learning takes place.
The minister further implored education inspectors and the professional development subdivision to redouble efforts in ensuring that activities in schools, especially the national standards and performance indicators, are properly monitored and that real and actual teaching takes place.
ELLANIE SMIT
ELLANIE SMIT
In some cases it was found that staff were consistently on leave since 2016 and still receive a full salary.
In speech read on her behalf by her deputy, Anna Nghipondoka, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, told Oshana regional education managers, supervisors and other role players at Ongwediva on Tuesday that there was a lack of action when it comes to prolonged sick leave.
Hanse-Himarwa also highlighted administrative shortcomings that were discovered during the payroll verification exercise that was conducted by the ministry and said the compilation of the investigation reports have been completed.
According to her, investigations discovered there is a lack of action from all role players including the heads of schools, education inspectors and human resources when it comes to staff members who are on prolonged sick leave.
“We have noticed cases of staff members who are on sick leave as far back as 2016 but are still receiving a full salary.”
Hanse-Himarwa said in some instances cases are reported through available channels for action to be taken, but that no action had been forthcoming.
In other instances cases are never reported by the principal or school management.
“Such tendencies are uncalled for and they negatively impact on the teaching and learning process and ultimately the biggest losers in this situation are the learners. On the same score the handling and recording of all types of leaves really require better control.”
The investigations further uncovered damning evidence regarding the embezzlement of state funds by some staff members of the ministry in three regions.
“I want to inform you that we have instituted the relevant disciplinary measures against such staff members and at the same time opened criminal cases against the alleged offenders.”
Hanse-Himarwa cautioned staff to be vigilant and to report any suspicious actions.
According to her the financial management department with the assistance of the office of the director must implement pay sheet control as a matter of urgency.
“The office of the director must compel all school principals to return all pay sheets for the purpose of pay sheet control to be implemented and the director must be provided with a monthly pay sheet control report. In that way, we will be able to eliminate dubious salary payments in the ministry.”
Hanse-Himarwa said equally education inspectors and senior education officers should intensify and coordinate school visits across the entire region.
“While this might have a huge financial burden at a time that we want to cut costs, the regional management committee must formulate a practical and efficient plan that will culminate in the realisation of programme quality assurance services members visiting school more intensely.”
She said the ministry should also strengthen supervision in all the schools in order to ensure that constructive teaching and learning takes place.
The minister further implored education inspectors and the professional development subdivision to redouble efforts in ensuring that activities in schools, especially the national standards and performance indicators, are properly monitored and that real and actual teaching takes place.
ELLANIE SMIT
ELLANIE SMIT
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