LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Teachers at Lilongwe Private School have raised serious concerns over what they describe as systemic mismanagement, favoritism, and unsafe working conditions in the primary section.
Reports received by this publication identify board member Mr Bedha and primary head Ms Maria Asghar as central figures behind declining school standards.
Staff claim that repeated attempts to raise workplace concerns with Mr Bedha have been ignored or dismissed.
Teachers allege that when complaints involve the primary headteacher, Mr Bedha often responds angrily, shouting at staff before redirecting them back to the same administrator, leaving issues unresolved.
An incident cited by staff involved Ms Sonya, who was reportedly insulted by a student of Pakistani origin.
According to teachers, when the matter was reported to Ms Maria for disciplinary action, no steps were taken, allegedly because of the student’s nationality.
Educators say this reflects broader administrative dysfunction and question Ms Maria’s ability to manage the primary section effectively.
Staff report that a recent interface meeting with the board failed to provide an open platform for discussion, with an intimidating atmosphere at the outset.
They allege that Mr Bedha instructed all primary staff to switch off their phones before the meeting began.
Several coordinators present at the session were reportedly loyal to Ms Maria and presented biased accounts favoring her administration.
Teachers claim that Mr Samuel Kameza, who lacks formal teaching qualifications, merely relayed instructions from Ms Maria rather than offering independent observations.
Similarly, Mr Prince Nebert, who had privately criticized Ms Maria’s management, reportedly adopted a supportive stance during the board meeting.
Staff say Mr Nebert’s behavior followed private conversations with Ms Maria, despite being previously wrongfully accused of theft on multiple occasions.
He had been accused of stealing money from Ms Maria’s handbag and a cell phone from the primary reception office, but both allegations were disproven.
Teachers also claim that Ms Maria obstructed Mr Nebert’s access to scheduled college examinations, forcing him to reschedule with authorities.
Educators describe Mr Nebert’s conduct during the meeting as an attempt to protect Ms Maria despite her alleged mistreatment of staff.
Staff further report that coordinators, acting as informants for Ms Maria, limited teachers’ ability to speak freely during the session.
The presence of Mr Bedha was also cited as a barrier, as he is widely perceived to defend the primary head unconditionally.
Sources allege that Mr Bedha, Ms Maria, and another administrator, Latif, share a regional connection and support each other in school matters, prioritizing loyalty and nepotism over merit.
Teachers have submitted multiple reports to the board, calling for urgent action to address governance failures and administrative mismanagement.
They insist that board chair Mr Kalaria must recognize that Mr Bedha’s actions, combined with Ms Maria’s leadership, are actively undermining the school.
Staff further claim that Mr Bedha has encouraged corrupt practices, citing an incident in which he reportedly told a teacher, Mr Francis, that pursuing legal action was unaffordable.
Educators note that only independent media coverage has provided a safe platform to highlight these issues.
Teachers also reveal that Ms Maria has summoned and shouted at staff suspected of reporting information to the media, creating a climate of fear.
Consequently, many teachers remained silent during the board-organized interface meeting due to fears of retaliation or dismissal.
Staff allege that coordinators met secretly with Ms Maria and were bribed to support her during discussions.
To improve transparency, teachers recommend restructuring future interface meetings to allow for honest dialogue.
They suggest that all board members participate, excluding Mr Bedha, and that coordinators be barred from attending.
Staff further propose a final closed-door session with the board chair alone, allowing primary teachers to speak freely without fear of reprisal.
They stress that safeguards against dismissal must be guaranteed to ensure open discussion of administrative issues.
Teachers also recommend introducing a suggestion box system to allow staff to anonymously submit feedback and report concerns safely.
Additionally, staff allege that Ms Maria has implemented class allocations based on race, placing children of indigenous Malawian origin at the back while reserving the front for children of Asian origin.
It is reported that an indigenous teacher, Mailosi, who taught science in Standard 4, chose not to report this discriminatory practice during the board interface meeting.
Educators describe it as unfortunate that a local teacher would shield a foreign headteacher practicing racial favoritism instead of condemning or reporting it.
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