adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) is recruiting mathematics and science teachers in Matabeleland South amid revelations that some O’Level classes have been operating without teachers for the important subjects since January.
The province has among the lowest pass rates in the country, with some schools registering zero passes at Grade Seven, O’Level and A’Level.
According to statistics obtained from the CSC, as of January 10 this year, the secondary schools in the province faced a shortage of 75 Maths teachers and 71 Science teachers.
As a result of the shortages, most pupils from schools in the province have failed to enrol in universities and other institutions of higher learning due to poor performance in the subjects which are a prerequisite for one to be enrolled.
“We have not yet received an update as to how many of the vacancies have been filled so far. The directive from the head office to recruit more teachers only came last week. Districts will agree on the dates to conduct interviews to fill in the vacant posts. Some districts have already started the recruitment exercise and this will be an ongoing process,” said an official from CSC.
The shortage of Mathematics and Science teachers has for the past years been the province’s biggest challenge and the recruitment exercise is an initiative which is part of the corrective action to put an end to the province’s ‘nightmare.’
Gwanda is one of the districts that have begun the recruiting exercise in the province.
In a notice posted outside the CSC Gwanda district offices stamped by the district inspector, the office was looking for newly qualified graduates from universities and colleges majoring in mathematics or science. The commission said it was also looking for re-appointees with approval letters, retirees with retirement letters and also those with non-teaching qualifications are also being considered. These should have degrees, higher national diplomas, diplomas and national certificates with ‘A’ pass in science or maths at A’Level. A’Level certificate holders with ‘A’ pass in A’Level maths or science will also be accepted.
As of last week, there were 11 vacant posts for mathematics teachers, seven for science and for physical science there were two posts that needed to be filled in Gwanda District.
On Friday last week, a group of job seekers was seen gathered outside Tuli Building which houses CSC Gwanda District offices for interviews.
Some of the job seekers told Chronicle that although they had not passed the subjects with the required ‘flying colours,’ they had come to try their luck.
Meanwhile, the teacher situation in the primary schools has improved since out of the 438 open posts which were vacant, 406 posts were filled as at February 18 and 62 vacant posts filled of the 170 closed posts which were vacant. No comment could be obtained from the Matabeleland South provincial education director Tumisang Thabela, as her cellphone rang continuously unanswered.
Online Reporter