MANY Malaita teachers are not happy with the 2017 teachers’ posting because it is done without the authority of the Malaita Education Board.
A former East Malaita principal education officer Thomas Afu made this statement during an interview with Solomon Star, Thursday.
Mr Afu said the 2017 teachers posting did not have the blessing of the Malaita Education Board – the legal body instituted by law to approve such changes.
He said without the board’s approval postings can be easily manipulated by teachers which has resulted in schools receiving two or three different postings during the month of January.
“Not only that but this has also resulted in teachers self-posting which cause unfair distribution of teachers resulting in more teachers posted to a school of their preference than other schools,” Mr Afu said.
He said he had also noticed that two or three level seven and eight teachers are posted to only one particular school.
Another problem, Mr Afu noticed with the current posting was that teachers on probation who are on level five or six salaries scales are occupying head teacher positions while level eight teachers in the same schools got only class teachers positions.
“According to observation, nepotism has been practiced and entertained in 2017 teachers posting which resulted in uncertainty and confusion of teachers posting and movement in this year 2017.
“Recruitment of FTA long-serving teachers into teaching force becomes an obstacle to newly graduated SINU trained teachers seeking employment.
“Some teachers have breached the teachers three years teaching contract and there are 2017 teachers shifting to other schools with misconduct behaviour without proper discipline procedures is now a subject of mockery, whilst they maintain their level seven and eight salaries,” Mr Afu said.
Therefore, he urged the Malaita Provincial Government through the Malaita Education Board to intervene and sort these teachers’ issues.
“Their effects have already negatively affect teachers professional standards and quality of education,” he said.
By BIRA’AU WILSON SAENI
In Auki
