Ombudsman rates education ministry worst on governance
The Ministry of Education (MoE) is the worst performing government institution in terms of respect for democratic values, human rights and rule of law, the Office of Ombudsman has revealed.
Paul Njola, regional officer (South) in the Office of the Ombudsman, made the revelations in Blantyre on Friday during a day-long training workshop for public officers.
The training drew participants from the police, ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture.
It sought to raise awareness on citizens’ rights, duties and responsibilities to effectively participate in promoting administrative justice.
Njola disclosed that a research his office conducted recently has shown that repressive practices continue to guide the activities of most public administrators, with education officials topping the list.
He said: “They [education officers] are seconded by the police with officials of Local Government and Rural Development trailing on third position while those in Agriculture and Food Security have secured the fourth place.
“The other culpable institutions are the offices of the Account General, Administrator General, Ministries of Justice, Works and Health.”
Njola explained that these institutions were found wanting in areas of maintaining professionalism when discharging their duties and making emotional decisions, especially before or when dismissing or interdicting employees.
Ombudsman’s principal research and civic education officer Felix Masekesa said government is losing millions of taxpayers’ money to compensate employees who were either dismissed or interdicted based on flimsy reasons.
“These millions could have made a huge difference to the country. But we’re losing it all to one person because some public officer was reckless in discharging his or her duties,” lamented Masekesa.
He, therefore, appealed to public officer to adhere to the rule of law, respect for human rights, good governance and democratic principles when making their administrative decisions.
Is the office of he Ombudsman still existing. I thought it was dead. Probably the current ombudsman will go down in our history as the worst ever.
this is because of nepotismof this govt of hiring the presidents sister Mrs. Oponyo as a PS- who refers to herself as Dr Oponyo. She is lying to the nation that she has a doctorate yet she does not and has not even been in doctoral program in any field!! she is woefully unqualified and thats why she embezzelled Madonnas money and completely failed to even start the foundation of the school. She is a disgrace and should be removed immediately!!
Ministry of Education has been like that even before JB came into power. I am glad that the Ombudsman’s Office has pointed out the oppressive administration that exists in this ministry. There is need for complete overhaul at this ministry headquarters in order for efficiency to take its reign. My view is that the officials at the ministry think that teachers do not deserve respect nor do they deserve better working conditions. I remember most of the times I visited the ministry when I was working as a secondary teacher, I would be asked this question “Ana mwasiyira ndani?” It was ironical for the officials to say this since they know that academic institutions just like any other institution have heads to whom the teachers report directly.