“Regarding overcrowding in classrooms, the recommended teacher-pupil ratio at infant level is 1:20, at junior level from Grade 3 to Grade 7 is 1:30, Form 1 to Form 4 it is 1:30, Form 5 and 6, 1:20,” he said.

“The Ministry has taken great strides in addressing the high teacher-pupil ratio that exists in most of our schools. The solution that has been made is through recruitment and the Government has embarked on massive recruitments, especially in 2024,” he said, while
responding to questions from legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Moyo said the government has decentralized the recruitment exercise to provinces and districts.

“This year alone, we have managed to recruit more than 6 000 teachers as a way of reducing the teacher-pupil ratio,” he said.

Some schools in rural areas currently have a shortage of teachers which could also be contributing to a drop in the pass rate.

New Ziana