Sunday News
By Nobuhle Nyoni
21 July 2013
GOVERNMENT has expressed optimism that efforts to bring in six South Korean Science and Mathematics teachers into the country will improve the standards of education in Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said South Korea is recognised as having one of the best education systems in the world.
He said according to the agreement the ministry had with the Korean government, the teachers were expected to arrive in the third term of this year’s school calendar.
“Korea is recognised as having one of the best education systems in the world and they are particularly strong at teaching Maths and science. It is hoped that these teachers will not only fill a gap but also raise the teaching standards of Zimbabwean teachers who they will interact with,†said Sen Coltart.
Sen Coltart said since this was a pilot programme the teachers would be based in three schools probably in urban areas.
“The teachers will be in the country for a year since this is a pilot programme. We will see how it works out first and if it is successful then it will be expanded,†he said.
Sen Coltart said this venture would be a boost to the education sector because a lot of Maths and science teachers left the country during 2007 and 2008.
“During 2007 and 2008 we lost 20 000 teachers including many of our best maths and science teachers most of whom we have not been able to replace. In the 1980s many teachers came from the UK, the USA and other countries. I hope that the Korean programme can be expanded and that we may also attract teachers from other nations to come and raise our educational standards until we have a full complement of Zimbabwean teachers,†said Sen Coltart.
The education sector is still recovering from a decade-long economic meltdown that saw most qualified teachers especially in the maths and science departments leaving for greener pastures outside the country.