Increase number of teachers – PROTUZ advises govt

The Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) has advised government to increase the number of teachers to be recruited in 2015 from five thousand to about ten thousand.

PROTUZ General Secretary Albert Muyembe says there so many teachers roaming around the streets and yet there is a shortage of teachers in schools.

Mr Muyembe says the few teachers in schools are stressed and burdened by the number of pupils they have to handle.
Mr. Muyembe notes that this to a large extent contributes to the poor performance of the pupils during examinations.

He says there is urgent need for government to address the shortage of pupils if there is to be an improvement in the performance of the pupils.

He adds that government should also begin to recruit teachers at the beginning of the year and not midyear, stating that the beginning of the year is very crucial as teachers have to prepare and the pupils also need to familiarize themselves with the teachers.

Mr. Muyembe says the new education minister should also look into the challenges teachers in the country are facing especially those in rural areas in order to improve the quality of education provision to the pupils.