Herald Correspondent
STATUTORY Instrument 72 of 2016 on the code governing running of Government and council schools only applies to School Development Associations or Committees (SDAs or SDCS) and does not in any way affect teachers and other civil servants, Government has said.
In a statement, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said the code was a product of talks between members of the National Employment Council for School Development Associations and Committees registered by the ministry.
“The code of conduct referred to applies to grievance handling and disciplinary procedures for employees of School Development Committees only and not Government employees,” she said.
The ministry apologised for any inconveniences that could have emanated from misunderstanding of the statutory instrument which was gazetted a fortnight ago.
According to the statutory instrument, viewing pornographic material, refusing to work overtime and sleeping on duty are dismissible offences. It spells out the duties and obligations of SDCS.
The statutory instrument lists as serious offences misuse of school property, smoking in prohibited places, doing private business during working hours, incompetence, neglect of duty, absenteeism, among other things.
It outlines other dismissible acts of misconduct as embezzlement, fraud, sexual harassment, assault, damaging school property, theft and refusing to work overtime.