More enrol to train as teachers

TEACHERS' colleges have in recent months witnessed a 10 percent increase in the enrolment of students intending to train as secondary school teachers, an official has revealed.

In his keynote address at the 39th diploma awarding ceremony held at Marymount Teachers' College in Mutare recently, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira said there had been an increased absorption rate of post- "O" and "A" Level students in Zimbabwe under the programme infrastructure approach.

"Under this programme, Government has after considerations based on staffing and infrastructure, increased the enrolment in higher and tertiary institutions to absorb more 'O' and 'A' Level graduates to reduce unemployment of youths in Zimbabwe," he said.

"It has streamlined entry regulations into higher and tertiary institutions such that programmes where mathematics is not compulsory were identified and entry requirements relaxed.

"This has resulted in a significant increase in enrolment at our higher and tertiary institutions and existing secondary teachers colleges have increased their January 2018 enrolments by 10 percent due to this policy shift."

Prof Murwira said the ministry observed that the demand for science and mathematics teachers was not commensurate with the number of graduates from the three secondary teacher training colleges in the country.

"In that regard, the ministry identified three primary school teacher training colleges, namely Joshua Nkomo Polytechnic, Mkoba and Masvingo teachers colleges to complement in the training of science and mathematics teachers," he said.