In the media

A mass exodus of teaching staff is looming at Likhubula Primary School in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre after 28 teachers asked for postings from the school following a stand-off that has arisen between the teachers and the surrounding community. In a letter, the teachers say they do not feel safe at their current workplace after the community openly accused them of misusing the school’s funds. The Chilomoni Ward Councilor accused the teachers of corruption when collecting funds from pupils and when handling other projects at the school.

In a bid to promote district level accountability in the delivery of education services, Action Aid has introduced an innovation which will address challenges to achieving high education standards. According to an Action Aid Project Officer in Mangochi, the initiative would address social accountability by working with the district council and building the capacity of various players in decision making positions to understand inclusive and accountable governance.

The recent stripping off of a PhD title of a Polytechnic, was as disgraceful and fraudulent as it was happening under the watchful eye of academics. Surprisingly, government which should have been more concerned with this academic fraud seems unruffled. If people with falsified academic and professional qualifications flood the job market, the results are, obviously, incompetence, loss of business and failure to meet set targets or goals.

Malawi's Education Minister has been arrested for using public funds for his wedding. The minister, now dismissed from his job, has denied the charges of having used a cheque meant to be spent on a cancelled official meeting to pay for the wedding reception at a hotel.