Poor conditions of service worsens teacher shortages

Over 300 rural and satellite schools in four of the country's 10 provinces are being manned by unqualified teachers amid revelations that both trained and temporary tutors are refusing to fill vacant posts, citing poor conditions of service.

The situation resulted in both primary and secondary schools in these provinces performing way below standard in the 2011 national examinations.

Last year, Government lifted the ban on temporary teacher recruitment in a bid to fill over 13 000 vacant posts. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Senator David Coltart said many teaching posts, however, remain vacant despite the lifting of the ban.

"The situation is terrible in those areas, especially rural areas mainly in the Midlands, Mashonaland Central and the Matabeleland provinces," he said.

"Most of the schools are manned by unqualified teachers and the problem is we are failing to even get those temporary teachers as many are shunning the profession because of the conditions of service."

He added: "Government, the ministry in particular, continues to be haunted by the (teacher) shortages and vacancies were still open despite the opportunity given to temporary teachers."

Senator Coltart said the number of people training as educators was "diminishing" at a time when the number of children starting school was increasing.

"The number of people being trained as teachers is retreating and many people continue leaving the profession going where there is better remuneration," he said.

"This is a problem we will continue facing if there is no complete change to our mindset."

Zimbabwe has over 110 000 teaching posts. Of these, 96 000 are for qualified teachers.

Many teachers left the civil service alongside other professionals at the height of Zimbabwe's economic downturn, leaving schools severely understaffed.

Senator Coltart said the education sector should be funded adequately, including paying teachers "handsomely".

"We should always make education a priority. There is no way we can solve the equation other than allocating enough resources to education and paying attractive salaries to the educators."

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