Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Dodoma Municipal Director relieved of his duties




THE Dodoma Municipal Council Director, Mr Augustine Kalinga, has been relieved of his duties for failing to implement directives by the government on provision of free education properly.

The decision was made by the Minister in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr George Simbachawene.

In a statement issued yesterday by the minister, Mr Kalinga has been relieved of his duties following his (Mr Simbachawene) surprise visit at Makulu Primary School in this municipality following allegations that parents and guardians were required to contribute money for settling electricity, water and watchmen bills.
“The municipal director’s office wrote a letter to all head teachers in the region, directing parents to contribute to security, electricity and water. Due to such flaws in that school, the director will be relieved of his duties effective January 25, 2016,” the statement read in part.
However, affected parents did not agree to contribute anything as they were aware of the government’s directives on free education. It further read that the head teacher had been directed to separate Capitation Grant (CG) and free education fund.
Mr Simbachawene has also warned the Municipal Education Officer (Primary Schools), Ms Scola Kapinga, for negligence by allowing her office to write a letter without her knowledge.
He has also suspended the education officer dealing with equipment and statistics for primary schools, Ms Josephine Akimu, for signing the letter on behalf of the director.
On the contributions, the minister said that charging parents, pupils and students anything was against President John Magufuli’s orders, Education and Vocational Policy of 2014 and CCM election manifesto of 2015, which insists on free education.
According to him, such contributions were against directives by the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) to regional administrative secretaries (RAS) and city and municipal directors in all regions on the use of capitation funds.
Mr Simbachawene stated that there was a difference between CG and free education fund, adding that CG is provided to schools to support administration of daily activities.
Last Saturday, President Magufuli reaffirmed while addressing residents of Arusha, the government’s stand in bankrolling funds for free education to every child and youth from primary to secondary school.
“I insist again that from this year onwards, education from Standard One to Form Four will be provided free of charge and the government has already disbursed funds to that effect.
Nobody should charge parents, pupils and students anything. We shall deal with any teacher or official who would dare to go against this directive,” added Dr Maguful

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