adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO schools are faced with a serious shortage of Mathematics and Science teachers, a development that is hampering quality education in the province, the Provincial Education Director, Dan Moyo, said yesterday.Presenting a report during a workshop organised for Heads of Departments from different ministries in Bulawayo, Moyo said the major challenges faced by Bulawayo schools were shortages of teachers and infrastructure in schools.
Moyo said although enrolment of teachers was currently going on in the province, most schools were still in need of more teachers.
“The main challenge that we have in the province is the shortage of Maths, Science and vocational training teachers. This is seriously hindering the provision and development of inclusive, holistic, quality and relevant education in the province,” said Moyo.
“The other predicament that we have is the shortage of infrastructure in schools, especially in Cowdray Park and Pumula South suburbs. Workshop tools and science equipment are also not available in our schools.”
Moyo said to combat the challenges, the province was now relying on its partnership with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to teach pupils in the Matabeleland region Mathematics in order for them to pass the subject.
“While the recruitment of teachers is still going on in the province, the partnership that we have with Nust has tremendously helped schools in producing better results.
“We are also encouraging holiday lessons for examination classes as well as encouraging School Development Associations (SDAs) to purchase tools and equipment for schools.
“I am happy that last year we set a target to register 30,000 candidates in Maths and Science for November, 2013 examinations, which we managed to achieve. We also set a target of increasing our O-Level pass rate from 21,40 percent to 22,93 percent and the A-Level pass rate from 83 percent to 86, 32 percent,” said Moyo.
Moyo could not be drawn to reveal the province’s outcome for the 2013 A-level examinations, saying they were still compiling the report.
He, however, said most schools had performed well owing to increased supervision on non-performing schools. “Generally, most schools performed well in last year’s A-Level examinations. Unlike some rural schools, our schools, including those in the peri-urban areas have not recorded zero percent.
“Seven years ago St Peters recorded zero percent. We increased supervision and the pass rate has been improving over the years,” said Moyo.
The workshop was organised by the office of the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Cde Nomthandazo Moyo to give Heads of Departments an opportunity to present the challenges they are facing in their respective ministries.
Senior Minister of State Cde Simon Khaya Moyo was guest of honour at the workshop.
Online Reporter