News Day
By Veneranda Langa
8 July 2013
EDUCATION minister David Coltart yesterday left for South Korea where he will be involved in negotiations to hire mathematics and science teachers to beef up the local staff complement.
Speaking to NewsDay before his departure yesterday, Coltart said his initial target was to bring in six South Korean mathematics and science teachers as a pilot project, adding the deal was being facilitated by the Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Kwang-chul Lew.
“I have been involved in negotiations with the Korean Ambassador this year to arrange for South Korean Maths and Science teachers to come and work in Zimbabwean schools as we have a desperate shortage of those in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, I am unable to give you the name of the Korean organisation that is to sponsor this initiative as I am not in the office and am preparing to catch a flight,†said Coltart.
“Initially, we are going to have a pilot project where we will be aiming to start with just six teachers to see how the project will work, and if it works we will then bring in more teachers,†he said.
“The salaries of these South Korean teachers will also be fully paid by the Koreans. We are in the process of identifying the schools where these teachers will be deployed. If the project works well, we will expand to other subjects. However, Zimbabwe’s greatest shortage is in Maths and Science teachers,†he said.
The minister said South Korean teachers were respected internationally for their prowess in teaching Maths and Science subjects.
The education sector is still recovering from a decade-long economic meltdown that saw most qualified teachers leaving for greener pastures in the Diaspora.