By MILDRED KATONGO –
GOVERNMENT has cautioned prospective teachers not to be in a hurry to use underhand methods to get employment.
Recently, a teacher at Mumpanshya Primary School in Rufunsa District was arrested for swindling 138 prospective teachers out of thousands of Kwacha under the pretext that he would find them jobs in the civil service.
Ministry of General Education spokesperson Hillary Chipango said prospective teachers should be wary of people collecting money from them promising to find them jobs in Government.
Mr Chipango said the procedure for one to be employed in the education sector was transparent as vacancies were advertised.
He said in an interview that the Government did not charge when recruiting, and that if people were charging prospective teachers, they should be questioned.
“This is the second time a teacher is being arrested for swindling prospective teachers. Last year another teacher was arrested for doing the same thing.
“I must say that people should not be in a hurry to use underhand methods to get employment. Government’s procedure to recruit is clear; we advertise when we have vacancies and those are published in the media,” he said.
Mr Chipango said it was unfortunate that some teachers were tarnishing the image of the ministry by engaging in illegal activities such as stealing from prospective teachers.
He appealed to members of the public to report any cases of people going round collecting money from prospective teachers and promising them jobs.
Mr Chipango said it was unfortunate to note that teachers were taking advantage of the prospective teachers.
He said the ministry would continue being on the look-out and arrest any teacher engaging in illegal activities.