News Day
By Pamela Mhlanga
18 May 2013
ZIMBABWE faces a shortage of more than 21 000 teachers, as the country continues to suffer the effects of an economic downturn that saw educators quit their profession for greener pastures, a government official has said.
The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Constance Chigwamba yesterday said there was a shortage of 10 839 early child development, more than 5 000 primary and more than 6 000 secondary school teachers.
“The country experienced a massive staff turnover during the hyperinflationary period, which has left the ministry in need of qualified teachers,†she said in a speech read on her behalf by the director of human resources and development in the ministry, Phalasia Masike.
“Globally, schools in most rural areas are manned by untrained teachers, where children are getting minimal or little learning.â€
Speaking at the launch of the Education for all Global Action Campaign week at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo, Chigwamba said teachers from colleges and universities shunned rural areas and this had created shortages.
This comes as a time when the Education minister, David Coltart warned that the underfunding of the education sector was a threat to the country’s high literacy rates.
Chigwamba said the education sector should be prioritised, as it was a “breakthrough strategy that is essential for achieving all the Millenium Development Goalsâ€.
“The ministry continues to make efforts to ensure provision of qualified teachers to schools through regular engagement with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, which is responsible for teacher training,†she said.
“Deployment of new graduands and reappointments are some of the ways in which vacant posts are filled.â€
The campaing runs under the theme “Every Child Needs A Qualified Teacherâ€.