Afrique en Ligne
17 August 2009
Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe has lost more than 20,000 teachers to its neighbours in the last two years because of poor remuneration, Education Minister David Coltart said here Monday.
Coltart said most of the teachers, who taught maths and english, had gone to Botswana and South Africa.
He said poor salaries and working conditions were the main reason for the exodus of teachers, leaving local schools unmanned.
“We have lost over 20,000 teachers since 2007. In South Africa, an entry teacher earns about R8000 (about US$978), which (is) not commensurate with what local teachers are getting,” he said.
Zimbabwean teachers get an average of US$150 per month, which is woefully inadequate.
Only teachers at private schools, which are few in the country, receive better pay.