Unprepared Chibombo school admin upsets PEO

By KETRA KALUNGATHE levels of unpreparedness at Mukalashi primary and secondary school in Chibombo has disappointed provincial education officer (PEO), Jenipher Chishimba Banda.The Central Province multi-sectoral team on Covid-19 during an inspection yesterday morning found the pupils had no face masks and were arranging desks and cleaning the surrounding.Ms Banda lashed out at the school …

Unprepared Chibombo school admin upsets PEO
By KETRA KALUNGATHE levels of unpreparedness at Mukalashi primary and secondary school in Chibombo has disappointed provincial education officer (PEO), Jenipher Chishimba Banda.The Central Province multi-sectoral team on Covid-19 during an inspection yesterday morning found the pupils had no face masks and were arranging desks and cleaning the surrounding.Ms Banda lashed out at the school management for not showing commitment towards work.She said was saddened by the conduct of the school management and teachers, who she accused of displaying lack of passion for the learners.The multi-sectoral team was led by the provincial minister, Sydney Mushanga.“It’s like you were not privy to the information that you needed to meet and plan for re-opening, it’s like you heard about it today (yesterday) when this was announced about a month ago,” Ms Banda.Ms Banda said the attitude from teachers at the school was as a result of not wanting to stay near the schools but rather demanding that they should be commuting.She was upset that the pupils at the school had no face masks when there were home economics teachers to produce them for the learners.She said teachers had no passion for the leaners because they chose to keep themselves safe by wearing face masks when the pupils had none.“This does not show that you have passion for learners, how can you yourselves be safe and the learners are not safe,” Ms Banda wondered.The PEO said even before Government comes in to provide the face masks, the teachers at the school should have engaged the parents to buy the masks for their children.And Mr Mushanga urged teachers to take the lead in ensuring that all the guidelines were met in the first week of re-opening schools.Mr Mushanga also directed all schools in the province to provide orientation to pupils in the same week.