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Teacher unions have expressed concern over fresh reports of examination malpractice in some parts of the country. This follows reports that 30 people, among them 13 teachers and 9 pupils were recently arrested in Kapiri and Mkushi for being in possession of grade nine 2014 examination papers.

A task team has begun investigating the alleged selling of teacher posts, the basic education department said on Sunday. The team has started to do its work and several interviews have been held with union's department spokesperson.

The reforms impose centralized teacher assessment and seek to end corrupt practices in the education system. Those practices include the buying and selling of teaching positions. However, unions say the reforms could lead to big lay-offs, and critics also suggest they may be paving the way for the privatization of Mexico's education system.

During an interview, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) discussed the problems and undercurrents of the nation's education sector and the way forward. He strongly criticized the irregularities in the system and said that fighting corruption in its totality must be a priority.

The government of Lower California wrongfully assigned 91.5 million pesos from federal funds to cover the wages of people working for the national union of education workers (SNTE) , instead of channelling it into activities of direct benefit to schools and teachers, as laid down by the contribution fund for basic education and teacher training (FAEB).

Teaching positions are for sale in Mexico, and have been for decades. Although seldom discussed, the practice—established by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) to reward party loyalists—is apparently widespread. The going price for a teaching position in a public primary school is reported to be between $5,000 and $12,000, depending on locale. Teachers who resign can either sell their positions or pass them on to their children. In at least some cases, local governments and the teachers' union supervise the buying and selling process. However, a recent reform effort—the "Alliance for Education Quality" (ACE)—signed by the government and the national teachers' union in May, would base new teacher appointments on merit, via an examination administered by an independent body. Not surprisingly, it has generated a vociferous response at the grass-roots level. Teachers have gone on strike in many states, marching on government offices, closing schools and blocking streets.

Honduras invests large sums in education, but powerful teachers' unions and political appointments hinder reforms in a sector vulnerable to corruption and lacking of civil society monitoring. There are 50,000 teachers in the country; between 2,500 and 6,000 of them have pending issues about their posts (such as irregular paid leaves or unjustified absence while still on the payroll). For current decentralization plans to impact positively on education services, local auditing skills need to be improved, parents must be given a bigger role, and unions must adhere to codes of conduct.