Zim needs 2 000+ schools

THE country has a shortfall of more than 2 000 schools and is also grappling with a shortage of trained Early Childhood Education (ECD) teachers as the majority of them are not properly qualified for the job.

At a strategic planning workshop held by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Bulawayo last week, the ministry announced that the country was facing a deficit of 2 056 schools and a shortage of trained ECD teachers where 67 percent of the ones currently employed are untrained.

In an interview on the sidelines of the workshop, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Cde Edgar Moyo said the Government was concerned about the shortage of schools in the country and called upon all stakeholders to take part in addressing the challenge to ensure that the country prepares itself well for vision 2030.

“We have a 2 056 school deficit in the country. In our small steps we are trying to address that through the 17 schools that we are currently constructing countrywide.

“That is coming towards reducing schools deficit but then this is not enough, we want to create private partnerships in the construction of more schools to reduce the deficit.

“We are therefore calling on churches, trusts and some other private players to come in and assist so that we meet the vision 2030.”

The Deputy Minister said there was a marked increase in the enrolment of the Early Childhood Development classes which should be met with an increase in proper infrastructure and ECD staffing.

He, however, added that the major challenge in having trained ECD teachers was because of the employment freeze that had been effected as a result of the prevailing economic challenges.

He said as soon as the economy improves more trained ECD teachers would be employed as they were the basis of the children’s education foundation.

“ECD focuses on kids hence the shortage of adequate learning infrastructure affects them a lot as they have to travel long distances.

“There is dire need for more schools so as to decongest those that are there because these children need special attention and adequate care.

“The other thing is staffing, the shortage of ECD teachers needs to be addressed but then that is subject to Government policy, especially the financial side of it.

“That is the reason we have 67 percent of untrained ECD teachers.

“We have a freeze in the employment of teachers due to budget deficit triggered by the economic situation prevailing in the country. But as the economy improves the recruitment freeze will be removed and adequate ECD teachers would be employed as they play a pivotal role in developing the children and prepare them for the bigger academic journey,” said Cde Moyo.

Through the budget presented by the Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Government pledged to support the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in raising additional resources from third parties for infrastructure development.

A number of resettlement areas in the country do not have proper school infrastructure and pupils are either learning in dilapidated farm houses or they have to walk long distances to schools, which in the process affect their performances. — @MoyoOlivet