The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has charged that it is hypocritical and fraud to disqualify citizens above the age of 45 from the ongoing teacher recruitment programme by the Government.
The Government through the Ministry of Education is in the process of employing 30,000 teachers, with about 100,000 practitioners having applied for the jobs.
According to the Zambia Daily mail report, Teaching Service Commission (TSC) chairperson Daphne Chimuka said applicants aged above 45 and foreign nationals were eliminated from the recruitment.
The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has already finished scrutinising applications in the teacher recruitment process at district level.
But EFF Secretary General Changala Siame said his party was disappointed by the decision of the government through the Ministry of Education, to disqualify teachers aged above 45 from the enrolment.
Mr. Siame observed that some of the unemployed teachers aged above 45 have been denied an opportunity to be employed in the previous governments for many years.
He said leaving out qualified teachers that completed earlier and prioritizing those that completed recently is a signal of corruption and demanded ACC to take interest in this process.
“The disqualification of citizens above 45 to be enrolled as teachers is hypocritical. As Economic Freedom Fighters EFF, we are disappointed by the decision of the government through the Ministry of Education, to disqualify any person who is a qualified Teacher but has attained the age of 45 years or above. This is a very unfair approach to enrollment of citizens who for a long time have been denied an opportunity to be employed in the previous governments. Actually as Economic Freedom Fighters EFF, our expectations in terms of criteria for employment were supposed to be; first completed first to be considered for employment,” Mr. Siame said.
“This was the most suitable and equitable approach as the selection will only be based on papers submitted without personal interviews. If anything, any selection that will leave out qualified Teachers that completed earlier and prioritize those that completed recently, is a signal for corruption and we demand ACC to take interest in this process,” he continued.
Mr. Siame questioned why the same government that has sent senior citizens in foreign missions is denying teachers aged above 45 a chance to be employed.
“Besides, this government has double standards that render it to be hypocritical. How than did Mr. Steven Katuta, Mr. Panji Kaunda and many other senior citizens qualify for jobs and yet deny people that were youths then who became adults with no job opportunities in the past? Therefore, as Economic Freedom Fighters EFF are demanding that the Minister of Education Mr. Douglas Siakalima to reverse this clause and treat all citizens fairly, equitably with a lot of consideration for their misfortune in life,” Mr. Siame said.
The Teaching Service Commission is expected to start announcing names of successful candidates on June 1.
The commission has indicated that the verification process ended on Wednesday last week and that names of people who qualified have been submitted to provinces.
As long as one hasn’t reached retirement age, one is free to get a job of their choice either as their 1st employment or career switch. Douglas Syakalima ought to know that UNZA, the institution he worked for a long time encourages life-long education. Some people only had chance to sit for grade 9 exams at 40yrs. This move is a minus and will discourage and disappoint many, especially women. Some women were forced into early marriages and were burdened by family duties but managed to enroll themselves back into school either after divorce, being widowed or retirement of their husbands. Others when their children sponsor them. We must celebrate such people with direct and unconditional employment. It’s not too late to correct this mistake, please do the needful.
EVERYONE CRYING FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
IS 45 CLASSED AS A YOUTH AS WAS IN PF DAYS
THOSE OVER 45 STILL IN EMPLOYMENT WILL NOT BE DISMISSED AND OVERS CAN GO TO PRIVATE INSTITIONS WHICH ABOUND EVERYWHERE
SO MAKE UP YOUR MINDS WHAT YOU WANT
Stop overloading ACC with such nonsence !
This is a sign of how far corruption has been engraved in Zambian’s blood, everything, everywhere is corruption !!!!
I thought this could be termed as discrimination based on age where you could call upon the relevant organization than calling ACC, what’s wrong with you people? If you cant define it how can you fix it??
If 98 % of civil servants in this country Are PF then why did the PF failed to win elections think before you talk 98 % is a very big number.
If it’s law, I will say nothing and I don’t know what the law says so I will say nothing.
You can announce your discrimination or you can can keep mute and practice it.
Why this large backlog of unemployed Teachers? Does it mean that during the previous govt No Teachers were employed? This only exposes the enertia that existed in there admistration.
Why is the teaching profession more deserving of age discrimination, than other employment e.g., Presidents, Ministers, Police officers etcetera; who right this minute, employ over 45s? Are we being a little conflicted in our decision making? Denying people the possibility of employment based on age is potentially a human rights violation if they are under the retirement age. I don’t know whether Zambia has a Human Rights representative – but if yes, he/she is being conspicuously mute!
#plant a tree please.