Mpemba Staff Development Institute concerned over low civil servant enrollment  

Staff Development Institute (SDI) has expressed its concern over the low government staff enrollment at its training institution especially from Chiradzulu District.

SDI Marketing Manager, Davie Botomani expressed his worry during a Chiradzulu District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting held on Thursday after noting that for the past four years, the District has only sent 16 members of staff to pursue different courses at the institution.

“The records we are having are showing that for a period of four years, Chiradzulu District managed to send only 16 staff members at the institution. Moreover, if we can ask those that attended the training courses working here in Chiradzulu, they are likely to say that they did their courses while working in other districts,” he said.

Botomani added that the institution enrolls members of staff working in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

“We are not looking at civil servants only, but also those working in various NGO within the district to attend trainings and various courses offered at the institution,” he explained.

He stressed the importance of officers enrolling with SDI saying civil servants are required to show certificates from SDI or Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) for them to be confirmed on appointment and to be promoted.

According to Botonani, failure to show certificates from the two institutions during promotion interviews means they will not be considered.

He said he is aware of financial challenges in most Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) which contribute to the poor enrolment adding that the institution has flexible payment methods.

Government on June 9, 2016 issued a circular letter to all Principal Secretaries (PS) on the introduction of compulsory induction and orientation programmes for the Malawi Public Service following public service reforms.

According to the letter, civil servants will only be eligible for confirmation on appointment after attending and passing relevant induction courses at MIM or SDI, both of which will in due course transform into the Malawi School of Government.

The letter highlighted that attendance and passing of induction and orientation courses at the two institutions will also form the basis for considering officers for promotion and other rewards.

SDI is a local training; consulting and research government institution based at Mpemba in Blantyre and was established in 1962.

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