The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and auditors from the Ministry of Education headquarters are investigating claims by whistleblowers that officials from the Education Division Manager’s North Office allegedly embezzled millions from a fundraising account. The whistleblowers further accuse bosses at the division of demanding money or sex in exchange for favours such as promotion or transfers to favourable duty stations. At the centre of controversy, Kayira (right) (PICTURE SOURCE: INTERNET) MILIMO CHITSULO The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is due to launch an investigation into allegations of misappropriation of funds by the North Education Division Manager’s office following a complaint by whistleblowers. The complaint, penned by a group of concerned teachers and addressed to the graft-busting body, further accuses Jennings Kayira, the Education Division Manager (North), of embezzlement and nepotism. It also accuses him of other abuses of office, including allegedly demanding sexual favours and bribes to appoint teachers to higher ranks. The financial abuse allegations in the complaint are also now subject to an audit ordered by the Ministry of Education, the spokesperson for the Ministry further confirmed to PIJ. PIJ has not independently confirmed the validity of the allegations, and evidence reviewed in the matter is limited to deposits made into an account allegedly run by the division, which was subject to embezzlement. Chief among the complaints against Kayira, who assumed his role in 2022, is that he established two new bank accounts for the division despite a 2021 audit that flagged misuse of funds through a bank account held at Katoto Secondary School. One of the new accounts was ‘NED TEACHERS AWARDS,’ account number 24190738, held at NBS Bank. In 2024 alone, over MK40,000,000 was allegedly deposited into this account, ostensibly to celebrate academic achievements through an award ceremony, claims the whistleblower. However, according to the complaint lodged by concerned teachers, a mere MK9,300,000 was allegedly spent on the award ceremony, with the remaining funds allegedly siphoned off by Division officers. Buying a transfer The corruption allegedly extends beyond financial impropriety, according to the concerned teachers. Teachers seeking transfers from rural schools to urban schools or aspiring to headships and deputy headships at boarding schools are allegedly forced to pay bribes to senior officials. Our sources allege the price for a headship or deputy headship can reach MK500,000, regardless of one's qualifications. In an interview with PIJ, a teacher who sought anonymity alleged that he paid MK200,000 to an official at the Division (name withheld) to be transferred from a rural school to an urban school. “It’s the only way to escape the hardship,” said the teacher. "This has been happening for the past three years," another concerned teacher revealed. She added, "No one can question it. It's a culture of impunity." “I need a favour” Perhaps the most disturbing allegation is the claim that female teachers are coerced into sexual relationships with senior male officers (names withheld) in exchange for transfers and appointments to the headteacher or deputy headteacher. One female teacher, speaking anonymously to PIJ, confirmed allegations of sexual exploitation by senior management. “I am here because of Vincent Kaunda... It’s a secret.” Some sources claimed the culture of sexual exploitation is so rampant in the division but refused to name affected individuals out of respect for their relationships, as some of those affected are married individuals. Dress casually tomorrow! Sources further claimed that pervasive corruption directly impacts students with tuition fees in Community Day Secondary Schools in the division, allegedly significantly higher than in other divisions, placing an undue burden on families struggling to afford education. “Students in our community day secondary schools now pay more than MK25,000 in tuition per term. “While students in the same community day secondary schools in Shire Highlands Education Division (SHED), for example, pay MK25,000 now. It’s simply not fair," said one source. The complaint further alleges Kayira introduced initiatives such as ‘Casual Wear Day,’ where students are encouraged not to wear school uniforms for a fee, and schools are assigned specific targets for these events. The sources further claimed that head teachers who fail to meet those targets are threatened with transfers to remote and undesirable postings unless they divert funds from school development budgets to meet the demands of the Education Division (North). "We were told the money from Casual Wear Day was for purchasing a bus,” said one source. “But that idea was abandoned, and the funds simply disappeared into the pockets of the Division officers,” said the source. According to the sources, despite the serious nature of the allegations, the ACB and the Ministry of Education’s head office in Lilongwe have remained conspicuously silent since the teachers complained on 28 November 2024. When approached for comment, Kayira declined to comment on the matter and asked PIJ to meet him physically to respond to the matter. Ministry of Education Spokesperson, Mphatso Mkonera, said in an email response to PIJ that the ministry has deployed auditors to probe the allegations of financial abuses. “Auditors are on the ground. We will comment after this exercise is completed to form part of our response to your questionnaire,” wrote Mkonera. ACB Senior Public Relations Officer, Egrita Ndala, also confirmed to PIJ in a separate written response to a questionnaire that the bureau received a complaint on the matter and was due to launch an investigation. “The Bureau received the complaint in Lilongwe. It was processed, reviewed, and recommended for investigation. Investigations have not yet started,” said Ndala, adding: “Engaging in corrupt practices is a criminal offense which is punishable by imprisonment of up to 12 years.’’ READ MORE: ABOUT THE AUTHORHOW THE POOR ARE DEFRAUDED UNDER SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME IN MALAWI
