By Jones Gadama

In a significant development, the Mzuzu Industrial Relations Court has ruled in favor of IPTE 18 cohort teachers, allowing them to participate in primary school teacher interviews scheduled for July 28, 2025, across all district councils in Malawi.

The court’s decision comes after Peter Mailosi, representing the IPTE 18 teachers, petitioned for a stay of execution of the decision to bar them from attending the interviews.

The interviews are part of the Malawi government’s efforts to fill vacant positions created by the recent promotion of over 26,000 primary school teachers from Grade TL to Grade TK by the Ministry of Education.

Initially, the recruitment process was only open to IPTE 14-17 graduates, leaving IPTE 18 cohort teachers excluded.

The Industrial Relations Court, established under Section 110 of the Malawi Constitution, has original jurisdiction over labor disputes and employment-related issues.

The court’s ruling is a victory for the IPTE 18 teachers, who can now participate in the interviews alongside their counterparts from IPTE 14-17.

This development highlights the importance of fair representation and equal opportunities in the education sector.

The Local Government Service Commission is now required to comply with the court’s order and allow IPTE 18 teachers to participate in the interviews.

The Malawi Judiciary, which oversees the Industrial Relations Court, ensures that such disputes are resolved in accordance with the law, providing a platform for aggrieved parties to seek redress.