The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
SEVEN Government registered teachers at Midlands Christian School and College are stranded after their contracts were terminated by word of mouth under the auspices of complying with a Government circular seeking teacher’s redeployment without giving them an option to choose between staying in private service or be redeployed in the civil service.
Sunday News has it in good authority that the seven teachers dismissed had running contracts whose provision for dismissal was only upon an act of misconduct but were dismissed verbally without a written termination of contract.
This comes after the Government, in January this year, recalled all Government teachers at all trust and private schools, in line with recommendations of the 2015 civil service audit report.
The teachers, however, still had the option to choose to stay in private service or be redeployed in Government schools.
In communicating the development to the affected schools, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango gave teachers 14 days to respond. By failing to respond within the prescribed period, she said, one would be deemed to have resigned from the civil service.
A follow-up circular on 16 February this year indicated that the affected teachers had the option to choose between staying in private service or be redeployed to the civil service.
The dismissed teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that they were informed while they were conducting lessons that they should pack their belongings and leave the school premises without a written termination of contract or a three months’ notice. The teachers said this was despite the assurance by the private learning institution that their jobs were secure and it still needed their services.
“We were told on 7 February this year that we should leave the institution. This was despite the institution assuring us the previous day that our jobs were secure,” said the teacher.
Midlands Christian School Board chairman Mr Alex Marufu confirmed the termination of contracts but could not give further details insisting that the reporter should wait until Tuesday to get his response.
“Yes (we terminated the contracts) but I cannot discuss with you that over the phone. I am not in Gweru at the moment, I have gone for a medical checkup so I will be available next week Tuesday and we can meet and discuss the matter,” he said.
