News / National
Zimbabwe to recruit 2,000 teachers
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THE Treasury has released funds to recruit only 2,000 teachers, a figure far below the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 vacancies currently affecting Zimbabwe's public education system, Parliament has heard.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo confirmed the limited recruitment drive during a recent question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, saying the exercise is constrained by fiscal limitations.
He said while Government aims to fully staff schools nationwide, recruitment is ultimately dependent on budget allocations from Treasury.
"The government desires to have all schools adequately staffed. However, I know that many vacant posts have not been filled," he said.
"Every post that must be filled must receive adequate concurrence and funding from the Ministry of Finance."
Moyo said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was only cleared to hire about 2,000 additional teachers this year.
"I am sure the recruitment is currently ongoing and that may not be enough, but that is what Treasury has provided for," he said.
The development comes amid a worsening education crisis marked by severe teacher shortages, declining morale, and continued loss of experienced educators to neighbouring countries and other sectors.
Teacher unions say thousands of educators have left the profession in recent years, while some schools are reportedly struggling with extreme understaffing and poor learning outcomes.
According to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, as many as 15,000 teachers exited the profession between 2023 and 2024, although Government disputes the figure.
Parliament also heard that thousands of qualified teachers who completed training as far back as 2019 remain unemployed.
Moyo acknowledged that some trained teachers are still awaiting deployment, explaining that recruitment is based on demand and available resources.
"Yes, admittedly, some teachers completed around 2018/19 who still have not been employed," he said.
He added that shortages are particularly acute in mathematics and science subjects, where skilled educators are in high demand and difficult to retain.
Teacher unions have described the recruitment of 2,000 teachers as insufficient given the scale of vacancies across the country.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masarure said schools are under severe strain.
"2,000 teachers do not even cater for the thousands who left the profession," he said.
He warned that continued underfunding and poor working conditions were pushing the education system toward collapse.
Teachers' salaries have also been heavily eroded in real terms since 2018, with unions arguing that many educators can no longer afford basic living costs such as transport and rent.
Moyo, however, maintained that fiscal capacity must guide recruitment decisions.
"The actual funding must be secured first before you employ, because you want to pay those teachers as soon as they have been employed," he said.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo confirmed the limited recruitment drive during a recent question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, saying the exercise is constrained by fiscal limitations.
He said while Government aims to fully staff schools nationwide, recruitment is ultimately dependent on budget allocations from Treasury.
"The government desires to have all schools adequately staffed. However, I know that many vacant posts have not been filled," he said.
"Every post that must be filled must receive adequate concurrence and funding from the Ministry of Finance."
Moyo said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was only cleared to hire about 2,000 additional teachers this year.
"I am sure the recruitment is currently ongoing and that may not be enough, but that is what Treasury has provided for," he said.
The development comes amid a worsening education crisis marked by severe teacher shortages, declining morale, and continued loss of experienced educators to neighbouring countries and other sectors.
Teacher unions say thousands of educators have left the profession in recent years, while some schools are reportedly struggling with extreme understaffing and poor learning outcomes.
According to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, as many as 15,000 teachers exited the profession between 2023 and 2024, although Government disputes the figure.
Parliament also heard that thousands of qualified teachers who completed training as far back as 2019 remain unemployed.
Moyo acknowledged that some trained teachers are still awaiting deployment, explaining that recruitment is based on demand and available resources.
"Yes, admittedly, some teachers completed around 2018/19 who still have not been employed," he said.
He added that shortages are particularly acute in mathematics and science subjects, where skilled educators are in high demand and difficult to retain.
Teacher unions have described the recruitment of 2,000 teachers as insufficient given the scale of vacancies across the country.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masarure said schools are under severe strain.
"2,000 teachers do not even cater for the thousands who left the profession," he said.
He warned that continued underfunding and poor working conditions were pushing the education system toward collapse.
Teachers' salaries have also been heavily eroded in real terms since 2018, with unions arguing that many educators can no longer afford basic living costs such as transport and rent.
Moyo, however, maintained that fiscal capacity must guide recruitment decisions.
"The actual funding must be secured first before you employ, because you want to pay those teachers as soon as they have been employed," he said.
Source - newsday
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