Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government will continue accelerating the recruitment of teachers and construction of classroom blocks to address staffing and infrastructure gaps that continue to affect the provision of quality education across the country.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo said the Government was also working to address shortages of textbooks and other learning resources, as well as challenges surrounding the timely disbursement of funding under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent tour of schools in Bulawayo to assess infrastructure, staffing, enrolment, utilities and learner welfare, Minister Moyo said Government was aware of disparities in the deployment of teachers across the country.
“We have always received significant support from Treasury when it comes to the release of funds for the hiring of teachers every year. We are aware that there are gaps in the deployment of teachers across the country due to various reasons such as the death of educators, resignations and some who are dismissed,” he said.
He said the Government had resources to replace teachers who leave the service and fill vacancies through annual recruitment.
“If I remember correctly, we recruited more than 3 500 teachers in 2026 and that shows Government is serious about filling the gaps in teacher recruitment,” said Minister Moyo.
On infrastructure, the minister said Government had budgeted for the construction of new schools and classroom blocks, as well as teachers’ accommodation, particularly in rural areas.
“Government will provide funding for the construction of new classroom blocks, teachers’ cottages, as we value the importance of institutional accommodation needed in some of our schools such as those in the rural areas and boarding facilities,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Treasury funding allocated to his ministry was being channelled towards infrastructure development and equipping schools with modern learning resources.
“We are grateful to Treasury for making sure that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is allocated a sizeable portion of the national budget,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the funds that his ministry get from Treasury are directed to the construction of new schools, additional classrooms at existing schools, science laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories and the provision of digital tools such as laptops, tablets and tools for internet connectivity.
“We want our learners to be innovative for the continued industrialisation of the country,” he said.
The minister said the nationwide school tours were aimed at assessing conditions in learning institutions and identifying areas requiring Government intervention.
“The objective of our tour is to assess the conditions prevailing in our schools as we establish whether we are maintaining a conducive atmosphere, an enabling environment that ensures that our learners’ standards of education are improving,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the assessments covered a broad range of issues, including school security, infrastructure, internet connectivity and teacher qualifications across Government, private, mission and council schools.
“These tours are also of paramount importance as we look at everything from the security at our schools in terms of perimeter fences erected around the institutions, connectivity to the internet, the qualifications of the teachers from private, mission, council, as well as Government-owned,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the interventions were in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises human capital development and equitable access to quality education.
“We make commitments to providing human capital development and remedy the situation where there are gaps in infrastructure and skills shortages. Remedial strategies will be implemented in the identified areas for the provision of equitable access to quality and relevant education for every learner in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Moyo singled out Mahatshula Primary School in Bulawayo as one of the institutions requiring urgent infrastructure intervention.
“Mahatshula Primary School needs at least 10 blocks of two classrooms each and that shortage has resulted in some learners turning to hot sitting, which means the learners attend class from midday to 5PM. The Government will deal decisively with the shortage of classrooms across the country,” he said.
