By Sarah Gwetsani
Teachers across the country are shaking their heads as if they have horns but in disbelief that government has reached a decision directing all District Commissioners across the country to carefully screen the list of Primary School Teachers for promotions.
In the letter dated 26th March, 2025 which was copied to all District Commissioners, Government advised District Commissioners to ensure that these promotions do not include primary School Teachers that are deceased, retired, or under disciplinary proceedings or action.
The letter has also advised District Commissioners to approach the Department of Human Resources Management and Development (DHRMD) to seek authority for Non-Established posts that if there are more teachers who may not be accommodated by the existing vacancies on the authorized establishment.
“These promotions will create vacancies at grade TL, therefore, you are requested to immediately start the recruitment process of the IPTE graduates who are currently waiting, let us fast track these promotions as required,” reads the letter in part.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kaliza Banda of Area 51 in Lilongwe, has asked government to come out clear on the teachers to be promoted claiming that there are teachers who have served for 20 years in service but they are still at one grade.
Kaliza said there also teachers who are connected to some ministers and senior government officials in the MCP led government claiming that these teachers were promoted dubiously through phone in calls from the office informing them to go to their respective District Education Managers (DEMs) offices to sign GP1 forms.
She said within the teachers themselves, there are some teachers of IPTE 17 recruited in the teaching profession while their fellow graduates of IPTE 13, 14, 15, and 16 are still waiting for government to create vacancies for them.
The teacher said looking at the time frame between April and September, 2025 when the country is going to the polls, she sees these promotions as politically motivated that government is hiding the truth behind these promotions.
Kaliza has recalled that teachers have been going for promotion interviews only to be told that some teachers that did not attend the interviews were picked, saying this demoralized many teachers expressing fears that these promotions will be similar to the interviews held previously.
“Ever since the MCP government was elected into power IN June, 2020, teachers’ promotions have been questionable, some MIITEP Cohort 4 and 5 teachers are at grade TJ and TK while those of MIITEP Cohort 1 are at grade TK and TL respectively, who are these teachers to be considered for promotions? She has asked.
The teacher has finally appealed to government to halt Primary School Teacher’s promotions for it to clarify previous matters raised warning it that proceeding to promote teachers with an aim of wooing votes, will bring no impact to the 16th September, 2025 elections on the basis that teachers are angry and hungry.
