It’s time to act!

THE Ministry of General Education must take the bull by the horns and take decisive action against the so-called sex party involving four teachers and some schoolgirls in Mkushi recently.

The teachers took the five pupils to Chalata for a drinking spree and later indulged in a sex party called “a feast”.

The public outcry over this unfortunate incident should spur the ministry into action so that the public does not lose confidence in the educational system.

In the same vein, we hope the District Commissioner for Mkushi, Mr Luka Mwamba must by now have realised how he has mishandled the sex party incident involving four teachers and some schoolgirls.

Mr Mwamba was aware that this despicable act took place but wanted to sweep it under the carpet. According to his explanation, the incident was old and did not need to be publicised.

It does not matter whether for example it happened a year ago for immediately the story broke, it became current and needed immediate remedial action. We must also realise that this “feast” could be a normal activity for the four teachers.

As some callers pointed out on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio 2 phonein programme, just because it was not reported did not mean it was not worth public attention as Mr Mwamba put it.

“As a public leader, he must be thinking about the girls’ future and other children who may come across these teachers, because this thing could have a long background that it was not the first time such activities were taking place in Mkushi,” a caller said.

That is why we agree with Zambia Republic Party, president, Wright Musoma that stiffer punishment was needed for the four teachers involved in the Mkushi sex party with pupils

How else could we deter would-be offenders if they are not punished? Merely suspending and transferring them to other schools will not do.

They would simply start off from where they have left off. That, as has been said before is simply transferring problems from one school to another.

Parents send their children to boarding schools confident the school authorities would be the surrogate parents who would protect them from all sorts of danger – not just teaching them academic subjects.

Senior Chief Madzimawe says the Teaching Council of Zambia should begin to show its relevance on issues such as this on what disciplinary action must be taken to protect the profession and the children implicated.

Judging by the public outcry that the incident has aroused, does the Mkushi DC still maintain that it was a minor weekend escapade?

As we have said before, Mr Mwamba as well as the Ministry of General Education officials failed to do what was expected of them as responsible public figures.

What the four teachers engaged in was simply defilement for the schoolgirls were minors.

Their action was an affront on the nation’s moral values that should not be treated lightly.

It should not just be “business as usual” for the authorities hoping that the scandal would die a natural death.

It is this inertia by the authorities to take corrective action even when they have all the evidence at their fingertips that is breeding indiscipline in the nation.