Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Minister of General Education David Mabumba says government has intensified efforts to ensure that the country has qualified teachers by phasing out the primary teaching certificate.
speaking during the world teachers day celebration in Lusaka, Mr. Mabumba says this will ensure that children in Zambian schools have the right to quality education.
He says government is seriously looking into the issues of unfreezing the frozen positions and creating career progression in order to motivate qualified teachers and ensure provision of quality education to the child.
Mr. Mabumba adds that government is fully aware that the career structure in the ministry provides few promotion opportunities.
He says there must be promotion and progression arrangements not only for those who enhance their qualifications, but those who make a sustained and effective contribution to learners’ achievements.
The minister notes that this will improve access, equity, equality and quality of the zambian education system and will also greatly result in the retention of teachers.
Speaking at the same event, Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) registrar Ebby Mubanga says any country’s development is only as good as its education system and that similarly, any education system is only as good as its teachers.
Dr. Mubanga adds that in this regard, Zambia needs quality teachers who are qualified, committed, professional, passionate, accountable and most importantly productive.
And Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) General Secretary Newman Bubala says despite widespread recognition of the importance of teachers in shaping the success of future generations, teaching is currently not regarded as a valid profession in the country.
This year’s World Teachers day was being celebrated under the theme “The right to education means the Right to qualified teachers.”