• Teachers are appointed to teach and there is a lot of expectation from them by society and government at large.
• There are terms and conditions of service and laid down laws that guide how to deal with such teachers.
• Should it be confirmed that those teachers misconducted themselves, TCZ is going to revoke, suspend, or withdraw their licenses.
Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) has warned that it will revoke, suspend, or withdraw practicing licenses of the two teachers who were found drunk on duty in Kasama, Northern Province, once its proven that they misconducted themselves as it was presented in the video that has gone viral.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Council Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ebby Mubanga said teachers are appointed to teach and there is a lot of expectation from them by society and government at large.
Dr. Mubanga stated that misconduct such as absenteeism from school and opting to be drinking when teachers are supposed to be on duty, is a serious professional breach.
He added that there are terms and conditions of service as well as laid down laws that guide how to deal with such teachers.
“The position of the Teaching Council of Zambia is very clear, first of all teachers are appointed to teach and there is a lot of expectation from them by society and government at large. So if teachers choose to misconduct themselves that way, where they absent themselves from school, and choose to be drinking when they are supposed to be on duty, it is a serious professional breach.”
“From the Teaching Council of Zambia stand point, should it be confirmed or proven that to say indeed those teachers did misconduct themselves as it was presented in the video, definitely the Teaching Council of Zambia is going to revoke, suspend, or withdraw their licenses or their certificates as teachers and once that is the case, those people cannot get closer anywhere near children in school,” Dr. Mubanga warned.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mubanga called on other stakeholders in the education sector such as the Teaching Service Commission, Ministry of Education, and teacher unions to condemn the unprofessional conduct exhibited by the said teachers.
“So we support the call by Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology because that is our responsibility but it is not only the Teaching Council of Zambia that is supposed to do that, the Teaching Council is just one of the organs. We have the Teaching Service Commission, we have the Ministry of Education, the teacher unions, all of us I think must condemn that unprofessional conduct because teachers are supposed to teach learners. If you want a better Zambia, the best education can only come from responsible, competent and committed teachers,” he stated.
Dr. Mubanga was responding to calls by Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Twambo Mutinta for Teaching Council of Zambia to revoke practicing licenses of the two teachers who were found drunk on duty in Kasama, Northern Province by a District Education Board Secretary (DEBS).
Mr. Mutinta said revoking the licenses will send a message to other teachers who are also in the habit of absenteeism and reporting for work while drunk, which is against the teaching ethics.
He added that the Committee expects teachers to put in lots of effort in ensuring that pupils are taught in a sober manner and that there is limited absenteeism from the teachers.
On Friday last week, a teacher and head teacher at a named school in Kasama, Northern Province were found drunk on duty by a District Education Board Secretary (DEBS).
