Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo said teachers assigned to examination classes have been barred from seeking transfers. This is being done to ensure continuity in the learning process and preventing disruptions for learners.
Teachers generally prefer to work in urban and peri-urban areas rather than rural locations. As a result, there has been a surge in transfer requests in recent years, mostly from rural teachers seeking to relocate to towns and cities.
Responding to a question in the National Assembly from Chimanimani West legislator Wilson Maposa, who asked about measures to exempt teachers of Grade Seven, Ordinary Level, and Advanced Level classes from being transferred before final exams, Minister Moyo said the ministry had been inundated with transfer requests, especially to urban centres. Moyo said:
Indeed, the ministry has been inundated by requests from teachers who wish to transfer to some districts, with Harare, Bulawayo and other urban centres being the preferred destinations.
At times, the transfers are effected at the detriment of the pupils, especially examination classes such as Grade Seven, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level.
To us as a ministry, Grade Seven, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level are exit points where we expect our pupils to acquire a certain degree of knowledge which is necessary for further development or career progression. For this reason, the ministry has, for long, given due attention to national examinations.
We have, as a matter of fact, advised our provinces and districts to exercise due diligence in handling transfers, especially for examination classes because in the event of a transfer, it takes a long time for schools to get replacements and ultimately, our pupils go for long without teachers.
As such, the ministry has come up with a policy to put on hold the transfer of teachers who will be taking examination classes. Such transfers are usually processed in the third term in preparation for the first term of the following year.
Minister Moyo said exceptions are made for teachers handling examination classes who seek transfers on medical grounds, particularly in cases involving chronic illnesses.
He stressed that no other reasons for transfer requests are considered for those teaching exam classes, as continuity in instruction is critical.
To further promote stability in disadvantaged districts, the ministry has introduced a bonding policy for newly recruited teachers.
The duration of the bonding period varies by district, with some requiring teachers to serve for up to five years before transfer applications are considered.
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