Report reaching this medium last night indicates that the salaries of one hundred and sixty nine (169) teachers from eleven Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Bombali district have been suspended by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).

According to the affected teachers, the Commission in the district embarked on verification exercise to know if teachers are teaching in the various schools. They said during the verification exercise, the Commission discovered that 169 teachers have abandoned their schools without notifying TSC. Some of them transferred themselves to other schools, others left for lucrative jobs to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) without the consent and approval of the Commission. The policy states that no teacher should transfer to another school without the consent and approbel of TSC. The affected teachers were however told to forward all relevant documents including letters of confirmation from the new Head Teachers or Principals to the Commission to justify that they are teaching in those schools for reinstatement..

“About thirty three (33) teachers reported to the Commission with the correct documents needed by the Commission that would warrant their reinstatement,” one of the affected teachers told this medium. The Commission in Bombali is expected to forward the names of the thirty three ‘teachers to headquarters in Freetown
for reinstatement after fulfilling the Commission’s requirement after the verification exercise.

One senior teacher of MCA School said hundreds of qualified teachers from Universities are yet to be employed while those employed and issued with pin codes are abandoning their schools without the consent and approval of the Commission.

“TSC want to clean the pay roll to allow the recruitment of new teachers by government through the Commission. We heard that the verification exercise will continue until the objective of the Commission is achieved,” a senior teacher of the St. Francis Secondary School said.

The senior teacher however commended the entire work force of the Commission especially the Chairman and Director of Teacher Management for seeking the interest of teachers in Sierra Leone. She also commended the Deputy Director of TSC in Bombali district for his tolerance, dedication to duty and support to teachers over the years.