Government will this morning start the registration of unemployed but qualified teachers who will be up for prospective employment in the first term of the 2020 educational calendar as it moves to bridge the staffing gap in its schools.
Currently, it is estimated that the teacher to pupil ratio stands at 1:70 instead of the recommended average of 1:20 and there are more than 19 900 unemployed, but qualified teachers, with some having not worked since 2012.
In a statement, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Tumisang Thabela said this is a follow up to the agreed recruitment of 5 000 teachers for next year.
“The Government approved and authorized the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to recruit 5 000 teachers in 2020,” she said.
“These teachers shall be recruited in two batches. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will be carrying out a registration exercise for prospective teachers who will possibly fill in vacancies for the 2020 financial year,” she said.
During last week’s 2020 National Budget presentation, the government gave the largest chunk, ZWL$8.5 billion, to the education sector as Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube said; “The government will continue to focus on creating a highly developed human capital base in primary, secondary and tertiary education.”
The allocation is in line with the Education Sector Strategy Plan (2016-2020).
The Education Sector Strategy Plan (2016-2020), which is in support of Sustainable Development Goals Goal 4 and the aspirations of the Paris Declaration on Education.
