Government’s efforts to have enough teachers in its schools is undermined by acts of superstition by some villagers, leading teachers to abandon their work stations.
This was revealed recently by the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) - Education Jumanne Sagini who admitted that a good number of teachers have run away from their work places not only because of poor infrastructure but also acts of superstition by the surrounding communities.
He stressed that it was upon the villagers to ensure that they stop such acts or continue to face the shortage of teachers.
Without mentioning the actual figure of teachers who have left their assigned work stations, Sagini said the ministry has been receiving complaints from teachers who faced such incidents.
“One day a lady came here and narrated a story which was very shocking. She said that she had woken up one morning to find herself sleeping outside the house,” said Sagini.
Sagini noted that the government has been struggling to improve the remote areas, such as in Mtwara where roads and electricity have been improved.
On teachers who quit the profession, he said they are being accepted in any field because they are disciplined compared to other professions.
Sagini said that it is a very serious challenge to the ministry to maintain them especially when they are faced with such superstitious acts.
“We can only retain teachers in their work places if infrastructures are improved and the communities stop superstitious acts against them because no teacher will accept to stay in an area where he or she is being humiliated,” said Sagini.
One teacher who did not want his name to be disclosed told The Guardian that he was teaching in a certain secondary school in Sengerema where newly recruited teachers, both men and women who had been sleeping in different rooms in the same house, were one morning shocked to find the female teachers sleeping in the men’s rooms.
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