Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba has disclosed that the government is working on a robust program towards teacher recruitment, aimed at improving the education system in the country.
Dr. Kalumba indicated that in the recent past government has been recruiting about 5000 teachers every year, in order to refine the student-teacher ratio.
The Permanent Secretary noted that his ministry is aware of the challenges that pupils in various schools go through due to an inadequate number of teachers, thereby compromising on the provision of quality education.
He guaranteed that the government will soon make pronouncements that will transform the education sector, saying that it is the responsibility of the authority to ensure that teachers are recruited, hence parents should not be worried.
“We are a Ministry that is concerned about the plight of the children in the schools and we need the adequate number of teaching staff to handle the children, but we must not also forget that some five years ago, every year government would recruit 5,000 teachers yearly, and the number went to over 30, 000 teachers. It’s just this period when we have slowed a bit but there is a robust program ahead,” Dr. Kalumba explained.
The Permanent Secretary expressed happiness that the school calendar is successfully being implemented amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
He stated that with the outbreak of COVID-19, many people expressed negative sentiments towards the school calendar among which included doubt that the country would manage to conduct general certificate examinations.
He commended the teachers for ensuring that learning was on course after laxity of COVID-19 restrictions, announcing that grade nine exams have concluded today, incident-free while grade 12 exams have also commenced.
He acknowledged that it was only through concerted efforts from the teachers, parents, and pupils who adhered to the COVID-19 guidelines that the 2020 school calendar was not compromised.
“From what we have seen today, there is a successful conduct of examinations, we want to thank the teachers, pupils and the general public for having to safeguard the future of the nation through examinations,” the Permanent Secretary stated.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking in an interview with the media in Lusaka, today.
But that also means higher spending for more teachers by GRZ which is in deep debt and has serious financial constraints .This promise doesn’t add up.
At first I thought jobiks is a smart PS only to discover that he rushes to make pronouncements without critically analyzing the effects.
2021 first term calendar has been changed twice as to when schools must be opened,this came after we were told that school shall not be closed in term 3.
Mr Kalumba is fully aware that having more teachers is different from providing the place for learners.There are no enough classes to help reduce the teacher to pupil ratio.
This 2020 programmes are involving each branch
I bet working on this branch will help a number of home sitting teachers get job
My other concern is the date on which the schools have been scheduled to open. First of all there is need to understand that opening schools is not only about school fees but there are some other things that are required to be met for a pupil or student to be ready for the learning.
1. School fees itself
2. Transport money and pocket money during school days.
These and many more all need cash. 18th is when nobody has been paid already except a few from well to do families who do not really wait for a salary. Majority are coming the other sector am talking about and may agree with me that January 18 just from the year end and new year disease will have not healed yet. My proposal would be the 1st of February 2021 am sure at least many would have stabilized after their January salaries…
Our govt creating employment in all sectors
It’s a good move… Employee as many teachers as possible… There are a lot of them that have graduated
Don’t tell me schools will open on 18 january 2021, are you saying these pupils who lost a all term as a result of covid will again be loitering at home, FOR WHAT?
A well thought consideration by the government..
The girl in the picture does not look happy.
I do not like the way both males are looking at this girl. This has spoilt my morning.
Imagine if this were your daughter.
Vote wisely.
Education is the base or a foundation of further of youths, they can reach a great height and be successful in life only if they get the best education. And, the PF government is doing their best to provide them better surrounding for education.
President Lungu always emphasis on education, he believes that the country can only develop if its youths are educated. He says that they have the potential to contribute to the social-economic development of the country
We cannot deny the fact that in Zambia, people living in rural areas are not well aware of the importance of education, and hence poverty and unemployment still continues. This initiative will bring positive changes to their lives.
Killing poverty is important in order to target development, and it is possible only if the people are well- educated.
In the 7th National Development Plan, President Lungu emphasizes access and participation quality, the relevance of education; and equity as outlined in it. This shows that he remains committed to ensuring that Education remains a priority pillar in development.
According to the UniRank 2020 African University Ranking, The University of Zambia ranked 18th position in the best universities in Africa. And, this is only possible because of educational schemes and awareness by Lungu and his government.
According to the UniRank 2020 African University Ranking, The University of Zambia ranked 18th position in the best universities in Africa. And, this is only possible because of educational schemes and awareness by Lungu and his government.
The government has been recruiting about 5000 teachers every year just to ensure that the children get the needed education and attention from teachers.
An article about student teacher ratio but no statistics on what the ratio was 10 years ago or 5 years ago and what the ratio is currently. How does the ratio vary between urban and rural settings. How does Zambia’s ratio compare to international standards? Do some research and write an informative article.
Yes education is the key to success
Good job Honourable
I think its good idea but how in this economic recession. What about nurse-patient ratio.
Indeed it is true that politicians can build a bridge where there is no river.