adminProsper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has started recruiting qualified and temporary teachers to fill vacant posts in the country’s schools in line with its constitutional mandate.CSC, previously known as the Public Service Commission (PSC) under the old constitution, is now responsible for the administration of the country’s civil service, including the appointment of teachers.
The recruitment is set to allay fears of a teacher crisis following a directive by the Government on Thursday last week, which barred its heads of departments from making appointments.
In Bulawayo scores of job seekers yesterday thronged the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture offices housed at the Main Post Office Building, to get recommendations to apply for the vacant posts.
CSC has posted notices at the offices advising the applicants of the required procedure to secure the vacancies.
In a notice dated 2 September 2013, Umguza District has about 64 vacant teaching posts, 27 in secondary schools, 25 primary and 12 in the Early Childhood Development classes.
In the notice, CSC said interviews for the applicants in the districts would be conducted today at Tredgold Building starting from 8am for qualified teachers and 2pm for temporary teachers.
The bulk of the vacant teaching posts in secondary schools are for science subjects, practicals and IsiNdebele.
Eligible applicants include college and university graduates with teaching and non-teaching diplomas and degrees, retired personnel, re-appointee teachers aged below 50, Ordinary and Advanced Level holders.
Education officers in Khami District have recommended applicants for 50 vacancies in both primary and secondary schools.
“Those not on the current list can try again in Term One 2014,” read the notice.
Reigate District education officers posted a notice saying they were not recruiting anyone while in Bulawayo Central District the notice said only qualified teachers and those that have recommendation letters would be recruited.
In Mzilikazi District school heads were advised to stop engaging temporary teachers until they get a notification through their clusters.
Similar notices were said to have been posted at the Gwanda District education offices.
CSC and education officers in Matabeleland North and South provinces who preferred anonymity for professional reasons also confirmed that the recruitment has started.
However, in Matabeleland South province recruitment of temporary teachers has not started.
“The process has started but for temporary teachers there is nothing. We are still waiting for the go-ahead. For more information try getting a comment from head office in Harare,” said the official.
Matabeleland South has about 780 posts that were occupied by relief teachers during the second term.
An official from CSC provincial office in Gwanda referred questions to head office.
“It is unfortunate that the only person who can talk to you is the CSC secretary Mrs Pretty Sunguro,” said the official.
In Matabeleland North, CSC officials said recruitment started in the districts on Monday.
“We started recruiting yesterday. The only difference is that it is CSC which is in charge of the process this time around and not the Ministry of Education,” said the official.
Education officers have expressed concern that the recruitment process was slow and the exercise was marred by a shortage of new appointment forms.
Each province requires thousands of such forms. Educators have also called for the speedy recruitment to ensure that lessons were not disrupted since pupils are preparing to write their final examinations.
Contacted for comment, CSC chairman Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwa referred questions to Mrs Sunguro who has not responded to questions sent to her on Monday.
“I cannot discuss these issues with the media. The secretariat is in charge of all documentation and you can send your questions to them for assistance,” said Dr Nzuwa.
Mr Lovemore Mubaiwa who works in the secretariat department confirmed that the questions have been received but said Mrs Sunguro was busy.
“I have received the questions and forwarded them to Mrs Sunguro but she is in a meeting,” he kept saying.
At the beginning of the year Zimbabwe was reported to be having about 106 000 teachers out of the required 136 000.
On average the country employs about 10 000 temporary teachers.
Online Reporter