Government to recruit 10 000 more teachers by 2022

Government to recruit 10 000 more teachers by 2022

By Staff Writer

Government has announced plans to employ 10 000 teachers by 2022 in a bid to reduce the teacher-to-pupil ratio as well as to decongest schools.

Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube during the presentation of the 2022 national budget last Thursday said that he will allocate $11,6 billion to decongesting schools and support infrastructural refurbishment of primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions.

The current teaching workforce is around 136 000, while the teacher-to-pupil ratio is 1:70 on average.

He said, “Government seeks to reduce the teacher-to-pupil ratio, and has set aside resources for the recruitment of 10 000 teachers in 2022.

“To implement the ministry’s priority projects, an amount of $11,6 billion is being allocated to the Primary and Secondary Education ministry under the 2022 national budget. The demand for education services covering primary, secondary, higher and tertiary levels have been growing over the years. This has not been matched with infrastructural development programmes due to resource and capacity constraints, among others.

“Furthermore, the need to de-congest existing schools in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and reduction of walking distance has prompted the need for additional facilities,” he said, adding that information communication technology gadgets to promote e-learning during the COVID-19 era through radio and online lessons would be procured.”

Currently schools were open for physical attendance at an average of three days per week, hence the need to support e-learning.

On procurement of personal protective equipment at public schools, Ncube said he would allocate $1 billion in 2022, while $2,3 billion would be utilised for procurement of teaching and learning materials, as well as assistive devices for learners with disabilities.

“As part of efforts towards upscalling the uptake of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in schools under the programme of providing mobile science laboratories in schools, resources amounting to $106 million were availed for delivery and installation of 135 laboratories countrywide,” Ncube said.