MATABELELAND South-has started recruiting teachers as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education addresses the challenges of shortages of teachers and schools being faced in the province.
The Provincial Education Director, Beatrice Sibusiso Manjere, confirmed the development.
In an interview, Manjere said the recruitment will go a long way in improving the provincial pass rate in both primary and secondary schools.
“Yes, we were authorised to recruit 307 teachers across the province for expansion posts.
“We are currently recruiting to fill the attrition posts and will be doing so fortnightly,” said Manjere.
Gwanda South legislator, Omphile Marupi, also spoke strongly on the issue of schools, and recruitment of teachers.
In his constituency update report, MP Marupi said:
“Schools have opened and we would like to thank the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for having responded to our plea by deploying teachers to our incapacitated schools across Gwanda South.
“While appreciating the response, the deployment(s) did not even meet half of our expectations due to transfers, promotions and the gaps that have always been glaring for the past five to 1 0years.”
He pleaded with the parents and guardians to clear their arrears with the school so that children can access their results on time and use them without delay.
“We are encouraging parents to motivate their children to do sciences.
“These days, science is the way. Where possible, agree on the subjects to be offered at our schools since some of these subjects are not useful in the job market,” he added.
He also urged parents and members of the community to be part of the development required by schools.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Tonderai Moyo, said recently that at least 5 000 teachers would be recruited this year with the Government expanding its teaching force as it seeks to continue reducing teacher to pupils ratio from 1:45 towards the target of 1:35.
He said although the Government had frozen recruitment, teachers were exempted, adding that recruitment would continue, resources permitting.
“We wait for allocation from the fiscus as the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion looks at the Budget for a particular year and he is able to tell us how many teachers are going to be absorbed. From this term, we are going to recruit 5 000, but we can’t absorb all of them who are at home,” said the Minister.
