Pay hike for Maths, Science teachers

CABINET has passed a resolution to introduce a 20 percent critical allowance for Mathematics and Science teachers who left the country and who intend to return to their jobs as a way of addressing teacher shortages for the subjects. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare which is the employer, confirmed the resolution which has now been forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for implementation.

Unconfirmed statistics released in 2009 showed that Zimbabwe lost more than 45 000 teachers mainly to regional neighbours with the most affected being Mathematics and Science subjects.

In an interview with Sunday News, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said the move was meant to address the shortage of specialised teachers in most schools across the country.

"As you might know this issue of shortages of Maths and Science teachers has been dragging on for some time which has seen the Government coming up with a number of mechanisms to address it. Among these many possible solutions we have already come up with a 20 percent critical shortage allowance meant for those who left to join the diaspora market hence the aim is to attract them back to the country. This is a motion that has already been passed by Cabinet, so we are now simply waiting for the employer (Civil Service Commission) to implement it," said Dr Dokora.

He said the Government has accepted that there was a need for a deliberate policy to attract back teachers who had left for greener pastures. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira also confirmed the resolution although she could not give details saying she was out of the country and will engage the Civil Service Commission on the matter this week.

"Right now I am out of the country, I will be back by Monday (tomorrow) and I will engage the Civil Service Commission then I will have a detailed comment on that matter," said Minister Mupfumira.

As a way of appeasing those who are already teaching in the country, Minister Dokora said the Government has embarked on capacity development training for teachers already in-service where they are sponsored to study at various universities and learning institutions in the country to boost the number of Maths and Science educators.

"To date we now have over 2 500 teachers who we are sponsoring in various institutions around the country, with the majority being at Bindura University of Science Education to especially address the shortage of Maths and Science educators. The idea is that these teachers are taught in-service, they never leave the classrooms which makes it easier for us because while they continue teaching they will also be upgrading themselves," said Dr Dokora.

He said because of the shortage of Maths and Science teachers most schools were being manned by unqualified teachers, something which was compromising the performance of pupils at most schools.

"I cannot let schools suffer because I don't have (qualified) teachers, we have para-persons, who are unqualified. Do I say delay teaching until I have 100 percent qualified teachers, no that is not a choice. We just have to develop means of either attracting back Maths and Science teachers in the diaspora or training those teachers already in service," said Dr Dokora.

Commenting on the matter, Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said while they were yet to be appraised on the issue regarding the critical shortage allowance there was a need for the Government to consult them before passing such resolutions.

"It is worrying how such an issue can go all the way up to Cabinet level without a single consultative meeting. Yes, they might be aiming to do good but still I believe teachers have to be consulted at the end of the day because this has a direct bearing on the profession," said Mr Ndlovu.