HARARE – The teacher-to-pupil ratio in Zimbabwe’s schools has gone up to an average 45 after the government froze recruitment, the primary and secondary education minister has revealed.
The ministry asked treasury to unfreeze 8,000 teaching posts but the request remains pending, Torerai Moyo told the Senate last week.
“We’re waiting for treasury concurrence. I want to promise the House that any time soon, we are going to embark on the nationwide recruitment of teachers and it will be a decentralised exercise,” Moyo said.
He shocked lawmakers when he disclosed that currently, one teacher is teaching at least 45 learners.
“The government is doing a lot to address the issue of the teacher-pupil ratio. At the moment, the teacher-pupil ratio stands at 1:45, which I believe is too high,” the minister said.
“Here I am talking of average ratio but under normal circumstances the recommended ratio for ECD is 1:20 . For junior primary school, it is 1:30. The same applies for lower secondary. Then for A’ Level, it should be 1:15.”
Other than new recruitments, Moyo said teaching posts that arise as a result of deaths, resignations and transfers were currently being filled.
The Senate also heard that 49,555 learners dropped out of school in 2024 alone, a development blamed on economic hardships.
