The Sunday Mail
3 March 2013
At least 85 percent of trained teachers are shunning the profession after graduating, citing poor pay and working conditions, a Cabinet minister has said.
In an interview last week, Education, Arts, Sport and Culture Minister David Coltart told The Sunday Mail that under the block-release programme an average of 6 000 teachers graduate every year, but less than 1 000 are taking up teaching posts. “Out of about 6 000 teachers which are channeled out by our teacher training colleges throughout the country, only about 1 000 are taking up these posts,†he said.
Minister Coltart said most of the graduates chose to pursue other professions while some are staying at home.
He said the situation has resulted in the Government recruiting unqualified teachers to fill the vacant posts. The unqualified teachers are accused of compromising the country’s education standards.
Minister Coltart said the Government was battling to attract qualified teachers. “As Government we are battling to attract trained teachers, as long as we continue to pay lip service to our education sector these problems will remain with us,†he said.
 Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said teachers’ salaries are pathetic and Government needed to intervene as a matter of urgency.
“How do you motivate a teacher or attract a prospective one by adding US$32 to one’s salary? Most of our young men and women are taking teaching as the last option,†he said.