Harare, (New Ziana) – A joint parliamentary committee has raised alarm over widespread overcrowding in Zimbabwean schools, warning that the situation is undermining the quality of education and diminishing teacher effectiveness.
This was revealed in a joint report by the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development, which examined the state of universal access to basic primary and secondary education in the country.
According to the report, many classrooms are exceeding the recommended teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40, with conditions particularly dire in urban areas.
“The Joint Committee found that many schools are exceeding the standard teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40. This overburdening of teachers hinders their ability to provide individual attention to students, further negatively impacting learning outcomes,” the report said.
It further noted that urban schools have resorted to “hot-sitting” which it said was affecting learners with disabilities. In Gwanda District, the committee reported a severe shortage of both teachers and schools. Teacher vacancies caused by retirement or resignation often remain unfilled for up to three years, found the committee.
“In the meantime, the delivery of essential subjects such as sciences, mathematics, and agriculture is negatively affected by teacher shortages. Those who remain face very high pupil-teacher ratios, compromising the quality of their teaching,” the committee noted.
A major contributor to high teacher turnover, the report found, is the acute shortage of adequate staff accommodation, especially in rural areas.
“Overall student outcomes, educational quality, and school stability are all negatively impacted by this circumstance. It is practically impossible to recruit and retain talented instructors in rural locations due to a lack of adequate housing amenities,” it said.
“In some instances, available accommodation was described as substandard, with two to three teachers reportedly sharing a single room. The poor living conditions have forced many teachers to commute from nearby towns or growth points, often arriving at school as late as 9:00 a.m,” the committee revealed.
New Ziana
