LOBAMBA – Hhohho Region Member of Parliament (MP) Tanele Magagula has called on the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate what she described as victimisation of teachers.
The MP said teachers and head teachers were being entrusted with responsibilities that were not assigned to officers in other government ministries, particularly in the management of public funds.
“ I have made the observation that teachers are the most victimised group,” she said.
According to the MP, the Ministry of Education and Training is unique in placing teachers and head teachers in charge of accounting for millions of Emalangeni in public funds without providing them with professional accountants.
“In most senior government offices or departments, there are accountants who oversee the use of funds.
However, in education, teachers and head teachers are expected to manage and account for millions belonging to government,” she said. Magagula argued that many head teachers lacked formal training in financial management, leaving them vulnerable to mistakes that could cost them their jobs.
“Some head teachers are not properly trained on how to account for funds. I am concerned because you find that a head teacher or teacher is dismissed for mismanagement of funds, yet there is no accountant at the school,” she said.
She noted that although some schools employed bursars, the ultimate responsibility still rested with head teachers, exposing them to disciplinary action whenever irregularities were uncovered.
The legislator pointed to cases investigated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), saying several teachers and head teachers had been dismissed after being implicated in the mismanagement of public funds.
She questioned why similar cases in other government ministries appeared to be handled differently.
“In other ministries, when there is mismanagement of funds, officers are often redeployed to other departments instead of being dismissed. Why does this only happen to teachers?” she asked.
Magagula also raised concerns about what she described as inconsistent disciplinary standards across the public service. She said teachers accused of theft were frequently arrested and dismissed, while officials in other ministries were often retained in employment despite facing similar allegations.
The MP further referred to the government’s ‘Hands Off Our Children’ campaign, describing it as an important initiative, but arguing that disciplinary action appeared to fall disproportionately on teachers.
“The campaign is very important, but it seems that only teachers are punished. We also have police officers who commit offences against children and they too should be told to keep their hands off children,” she said.
She alleged that some police officers accused of impregnating schoolchildren had remained in their positions, while teachers accused of similar offences faced swift disciplinary action.
Magagula also questioned why teachers were dismissed for absenteeism when, according to him, absenteeism occurred in other government departments without attracting similar sanctions.
She called for uniform disciplinary standards across the public service, saying teachers should not be singled out while officers in other sectors were
