- The caning of 16 primary school teachers by the police officers has sparked outrage in the education sector, with the teachers' union threatening to take legal action against the ministry.
The teachers were reported to have been caned by the police after an inquiry into poor exam results at three schools, which the officials claimed teachers were not teaching the official syllabus and were failing to show up at work.
The Bukoba District Commissioner Albert Mnali allegedly ordered a police officer who was accompanying him during his official tour in the District last Wednesday to dispense four strokes of the cane each to 16 teachers for failure to execute their duties.
But Deputy Education Minister Mwantumu Mahiza termed the incident as "unfortunate and utterly absurd," suggesting that Mr Mnali needed to be psychologically assessed for his unusual benhavior.
"I really can't believe that a sane senior government official can order the police to cane civil servants. There are procedures to be followed before a civil servant is punished," Ms Mahiza said.
The teachers' body regional chairperson, Dauda Bilikesi said Mr Mnali’s conduct was unprofessional, and said he has done it in his personal capacity not as a government official.
"We are thinking of legal actions against such inhuman and uncivilized action which has categorically left teachers both physically and psychologically traumatised," said Mr Bilikesi, further stating that there are proper regulations governing public service staff which should have been used to address the issue of the teachers' conduct.
The teachers were from Kansenene, Kanazi and Katerero primary schools which the DC toured on Wednesday morning.
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