Teachers fear increasing teacher-pupil ratio

Teachers have expressed concern that the current upheavals in the labour market stand to threaten the already unfavourable teacher to pupil ratio which might disadvantage learners if it is not urgently redressed.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) says it is concerned with the turmoil in the labour market.

ZIMTA CEO, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said while aiming for a one is to 40 teacher pupil ratio, if not controlled, the situation might end up seeing one teacher servicing 50 pupils thus eroding gains in the country's education system.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the overall teacher to pupil ratios in Zimbabwe remained stable at between one as to 38 and one as to 39 over the period 2000 - 2010.

Teachers however maintained that the current labour market upheavals should not be allowed to encroach into the sector as the biggest losers might be the average young Zimbabwean learner.