THE Public Service Commission has approved the promotion of some senior educators in Matabeleland North and Masvingo provinces to positions of primary and secondary school heads and deputies.
This was confirmed by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry director of human resources (southern region), Gamaliel Nkala, in a letter dated September directed to Matabeleland North provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu.
The letter stated that the PSC had approved the promotion of 71 heads for primary schools, 209 deputy heads for primary schools, 40 heads for secondary schools and five deputy heads for secondary schools in Matabeleland North and Masvingo.
“According to paragraph 3 of part II of the second schedule of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, as amended, the members shall be on probation for a year,,” reads the letter.
“Please implement the commission’s decision and copy the head office for its records.”
In June, the ministry called for applications for a total of 173 school heads for both secondary and primary schools to fill vacant posts.
The developments came at a time when the teaching profession is hard hit by a mass exodus of educators due to various reasons, among them poor working conditions.
The ministry, in its call for applications, indicated that primary schools needed 127 school heads while secondary schools needed 46 heads in Matabeleland North.
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In secondary school the district topping the demand for school heads is Lupane with 12 vacancies, followed by Nkayi with 10, Tsholotsho (eight), Binga (seven), Bubi (five), Hwange and Umguza (two) each.
For primary schools the district with high demand for school heads is Lupane with 37 vacant posts, followed by Tsholotsho (30), Nkayi (25), Hwange (14), Binga (nine), Bubi (five), and Umguza with four vacant posts.
The remarks came a few weeks after teachers unions revealed that they were overwhelmed by reports of teachers, who go for early retirement or seek advice on it, with reports that over 5 000 educators leave schools almost every year due to poor working conditions and remuneration.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro recently said teacher welfare remains a priority.
