ARTUZ Slams Government’s “Band-Aid” Recruitment Of Teachers

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) says the government’s plan to recruit 2,000 teachers in 2026 barely dents the severe staffing crisis crippling public schools.

During a recent Parliamentary Q&A session, Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said teacher recruitment depends on Treasury allocations and the country’s fiscal capacity.

He revealed that funding has only been made available for about 2,000 teachers this year.

ARTUZ spokesperson Thembakuye Moyo argued that Zimbabwe needs nearly 90,000 teachers to close the gap.

“The number to be recruited is an insignificant 2,22%. The said recruitment is but a psychological band-aid for teachers,” he said.

According to ARTUZ, the average teacher–pupil ratio in public schools is 1:45, far above the recommended 1:20 for Early Childhood Development and 1:40 for primary schools.

In some cases, one teacher is responsible for more than 60 learners, while others must teach composite classes covering two grades at once.

Moyo warned that the shortages are undermining education quality, especially in rural schools, where overcrowded classrooms and heavy workloads leave little room for individual attention.

He added that critical subjects such as Science, Mathematics and Agriculture are increasingly difficult to deliver effectively due to understaffing and worsening working conditions.

ARTUZ also linked the crisis to poor pay, saying low salaries continue to drive trained educators out of the profession.

“The few dedicated teachers are poorly remunerated, leading to brain drain. This suggests that the parliamentary-approved recruitment of 2 000 teachers will not improve the shortage but will be replacing those who would have left due to poor wages.” Moyo said.

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