SECRETARY for Education Dr Uke Kombra has urged teachers to be neutral during the National Elections as the decisions they make can affect their schools and the department as well.
Kombra when launching the National Rating Conference for inspectors and provincial advisors said that teachers should remain neutral during the elections.
He said the responsibilities of teachers are to educate people of the processes of election and not to give advice to politicians.
“Your personal interest must remain personal. You must remain neutral in every decision,” Dr Kombra said.
He there would be some teachers that will be involved in the elections as polling officers.
“There are teachers that will be taking part in the election as polling officers but there should not be any direct involvement, such as becoming a campaign manager,” he said.
Kombra said teachers who were supposed to contest for the election should have resigned six months before issuing or writs.
“They can stand for elections but their chances of coming back are limited,” he said.
Kombra said the education calendar coincides with the polling period and students will take two weeks holiday. He said that was because some schools would be used for
polling and counting.
Teaching Service Commission Chairman Samson Wangihomie also added that schools are also neutral grounds and should not be sued for campaigns.
