Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
The Public Service Commission (PSC) says it has noted with concern media reports alleging corruption, nepotism and favouritism in the recruitment of teachers, allegations that the commission has dismissed as false.
PSC is mandated to oversee the recruitment of qualified persons into the civil service.
In a statement, the PSC said it is committed to ensuring that all recruitment and appointment processes are conducted in accordance with established Government regulations, approved recruitment procedures and principles of fairness, merit, transparency and equal opportunity.
“In exercising this mandate in a transparent, decentralised and merit-based manner, PSC is governed by established procedures and controls intended to safeguard the integrity of the process. These include the application of approved selection criteria, verification of candidate information and qualifications, appropriate authorisation processes and maintenance of records to facilitate accountability and audit,” said the commission.
The PSC said it does not condone corruption.
“PSC will not tolerate corruption, favouritism, nepotism, manipulation of recruitment processes, bribery or abuse of public office for personal benefit.
“Any allegation or indication of the flouting of established rules and regulations is treated seriously and may be subjected to appropriate scrutiny and investigation in accordance with due process.”
In accordance with PSC teacher recruitment processes, educators who have qualified and are awaiting deployment are required to register with the commission through the Human Resources Information Management System (HRMIS) upon completion of their training.
“The HRMIS provides a centralised database of prospective teacher candidates and captures relevant information.
“The information must include date of completion of training, date of registration, area of specialisation and province of preference.
“The database provides the commission with an organised and auditable record of candidates available for consideration against vacancies and identified staffing requirements.
“Registration, however, should not be misconstrued as an appointment or an entitlement to immediate placement.
“Recruitment and placement are undertaken against the requirements of available posts and in accordance with the approved recruitment criteria applicable to the particular exercise,” said PSC.
Factors considered in recruitment include year of completion of training, qualifications and suitability for the post.
PSC also considers area of specialisation, availability and location of vacancies, province and geographical preferences.
Candidates successfully employed in outlying districts are required to serve in that district for at least four years before being considered for transfer.
“This criteria demonstrate that geographical and staffing considerations can legitimately affect placement decisions, particularly where Government is seeking to address persistent staffing shortages in hard-to-reach areas,” the PSC said.
PSC added that its recruitment process is transparent, decentralised and merit-based.
“The recruitment process is not designed to be determined arbitrarily by an individual official,” said the commission.
PSC emphasised that registration in HRMIS does not mean immediate placement.
“The fact that one candidate registered earlier than another does not, in itself, establish that the earlier registrant was entitled to be appointed first.
“Recruitment decisions are made within the framework of approved recruitment criteria, verified vacancies, qualifications, staffing requirements, geographical considerations, specialisation, applicable priorities and the prescribed recruitment process.”
The commission also said that in cases involving hard-to-reach districts, the appointment of teachers for Early Childhood Development and junior levels, registration order is not placement order.
“For example, absorption of secondary school-trained teachers for practical subjects like Music and Physical Education has been very slow because few schools offer these subjects.
“Consequently, the mere fact that a candidate who registered later may have been placed ahead of a candidate who registered earlier does not, on its own, constitute evidence of corruption, manipulation or improper favouritism.”
Allegations or suspicions of corruption or improper conduct are investigated thoroughly by the PSC.
