Matabeleland South province is short of about 610 and 460 primary and secondary teachers respectively. The Ministry of Education is still consolidating figures for Matabeleland North.
Education directors for the two provinces said the shortage was compromising the standard of education. The PED for Matabeleland South, Thumisang Thabela, said the hardest hit districts were those along the border: Bulilima, Mangwe, and Matobo.
She said the situation in Beitbridge was better.
“Insiza and Mzingwane districts are better off because they are closer to Bulawayo. However, we still have challenges with secondary school teachers especially in practical and science subjects,” she said.
“With the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture directive for schools not to engage temporary teachers, we cannot create new posts, but can engage people for those posts that were filled last term.
“This means that the gaps which are there will remain. In Matabeleland South, about 85.3 percent of primary school places are occupied while about 77.6 percent of secondary school posts are full. This means we have a shortage of 610 and 460 teachers for primary and secondary teachers respectively.”
She said the challenges facing the province were worsened by the fact that most people had left for South Africa or Botswana.
“We hope we will be allowed to engage temporary teachers to fill our vacant posts,” she said. Mathius Luphahla, the deputy Provincal Education Director for Matabeleland North, said the province was assessing the situation.
“One thing to note is that districts are still recruiting teachers to try and reach the figures they had previously. We have always had a problem with teachers for sciences and practical subjects and hope the government will allow us to engage temporary teachers.”
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture recently announced that it would indefinitely suspend the services of temporary teachers while qualified teachers intending to go on leave would not be in a position to immediately do so.
Post published in: News