YUMBE TEACHERS ON THE SPOT OVER ILLEGAL, SELF-TRANSFERS

Mr Moses Chuna Kapolon, the Yumbe district Chief Administrative Officer. PHOTO BY ROBERT ELEMA

By Robert Elema
 
Yumbe 

A section of Primary school Teachers in Yumbe district are on the spot over what is termed as illegal and self-transfers.
 
Reports indicate that some of the teachers who applied for transfers after waiting for the formal transfer letters in vain, illegally transferred themselves to schools of their choice.
 
The Yumbe District Education Department tried to work on teachers transfer for this year but the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) decided to cancel the transfers on grounds that it was done late.  
 
Speaking to Radio Pacis on Monday, Mr Isaac Adebuga the head teacher of Kechuru Primary School said, his school has been affected where one of the teachers got self-transferred to another school.
 
He confirmed having endorsed the teacher’s application letter for transfer which was submitted to the Education Office for action.
 
Mr. Adebuga said they got assurance from the DEO’s office that if this teacher would be transferred, there would be a replacement, so they were eagerly waiting for the transfers to take effect.
 
“We have known that transfers have been cancelled but since the start of this term, the teacher has not stepped on the school compound. We need the teacher to come back because we have a staffing gap in the school,” he said.
 
“This teacher only presented an application letter to the Education Office but I don’t know what he used to go to Nyori primary school since no official letter was given to him which I will find out from the headteacher of the school,” he added.
 
Mr Hassan Abdulai Amin the headteacher of Midigo Primary School says, three teachers in the school had applied for transfers this year.
 
A good number of the teachers had already moved to the schools of their choice but Mr Hassan denies the claims saying his teachers were still waiting for official letters at home.
 
“It’s true that I endorsed the letters for the three teachers who had applied for transfer. The teachers had not yet gone to the schools of their interest but they were waiting for their transfer letters at home,’’ he stated.
 
“Following the letter written to all the headteachers about the illegal transfers of the teachers with the intention of punishing them, my teachers have come back and they have resumed teaching,” he added.
 

Mr Chandiga Ahumed, one of the affected teachers from Kechuru Primary School says, he applied for transfer due to sickness as there was no person to help him at the school.
 
“I developed some serious sickness and it was my family members who went and picked me from the school. For that matter, I had to apply for transfer and my intention was to be posted to a nearby school so that I may be helped by my family members,” he said.
 
“I presented my issue to the DEO’s office and I was consequently advised to go to a nearby school as they were still working on the transfers. With the guidance from the Education Office, I decided to go to Nyori Primary school where I am currently teaching,” he added.
 
It was not clear who advised Mr Chandiga to go to the said school without an official letter as the Education office has rubbished his claim.
 
Mr Rasul Luriga the District Education Officer warned that, the teachers who have self-transferred without official documents shouldn’t involve them in their confusion.
 
“We haven’t done transfers for this year and we have also not instructed any teacher to move to a new station because our instructions are always accompanied with written letters. We can’t handle formal issues like the way we handle clan issues,” he said.
 
“Some teachers have genuine reasons for transfer but we are still studying the situation and in case there are critical issues, we shall handle them at the end of first term. Right now, we can’t handle it because it can affect teaching and learning,” he added.
 
Mr Moses Chuna Kapolon the Chief Administrative Officer revealed that, self-transfers have become a culture among the teachers in the district adding that it disorganizes teaching and the staffing in schools.
 
Mr Kapolon said he has never done transfers and termed the actions of the teachers to be total disobedience and that it is unlawful for the teachers to transfer themselves on their own.
 
“I have written a circular to that effect and I have also directed the Inspector of Schools and the Education Officers to come up with a report. Once I get a report on the teachers who have self-transferred, they will be subjected to disciplinary action,” Mr Kapolon warned.
 
The CAO was unable to reveal the number of the teachers who went on self-transfer as the report is being compiled by the education office.  
 
Mr Kapolon blamed some of the education officials for such self-transfers saying: “I have learnt that the Inspector of schools and the Education Officers sometimes leak information on transfers to the teachers before my office endorses such transfer letters. We should end this culture of self-transfer with immediate effect.”
 
He said, the delay in last year’s transfers disorganized the schools which made them to learn a lesson from and that they have resolved not to do transfers when school activities are running.