Public Service Commission audit reveals that 7 000 untrained teachers earn more than qualified ones

A Public Service Commission (PSC) audit has revealed that at least 7 000 untrained teachers have been corruptly employed by the School Development Associations (SDAs) and headmasters in both primary and secondary schools throughout the country, yet thousands of qualified teachers are jobless.

The audit report which names both the schools and unqualified personnel who were corruptly employed as teachers, said the development has greatly compromised the quality of education. According to the report, the SDAs teachers were earn more salaries than government employed and qualified teachers. An example is that of Alexandra Primary School in Harare which was giving an SDA employed teacher a salary of $1 193 while a government employed teacher with a degree was getting $514.

PSC recommended that SDAs should focus on their key mandate of developing school infrastructure and refrain from recruiting teachers saying that it is the duty of the PSC.