Observer-Reporter

Zhombe community is grappling with a teacher exodus as educators seek better opportunities in urban areas.

Over 300 students at Manzimunyama Secondary School in Zhombe, are facing a teacher shortage crisis as educators continue to leave for more prosperous opportunities in urban areas.

The school, which once boasted a team of twelve teachers, is now without Mathematics, Science, and History teachers due to numerous transfers to urban schools, according to Emmanuel Sibanda, an outgoing councilor in Zhombe.

Sibanda said the situation has left the students struggling to come to terms with their studies without seasoned teachers’ guidance.

“Teachers are being transferred to urban setups. Most school children are losing out for example at St Pauls the substantive head was transferred to Silobela and the school is now being headed by the teacher in charge. This compromises the quality of education as that person is not qualified to head that school.

At Manzimunyama a lot of transfers have been made, the English and History teacher was transferred to Batanai High School in Redcliff whilst the Science teacher went to Rutendo and all these teachers are not being replaced. Only three days ago Gwesela Bhalimasvesve Primary School which has 140 predominantly Ndebele speaking only got a teacher for this subject after the head at Manzimunyama realized that they had got another teacher yet they are overstaffed.  You find that if you do not English, Ndebele, Maths, and Science those are basics of education. Though we are saying we have a school it is being done on ignorance. Students pass in Zhombe because of their hard work and the grace of God,” he said.

Villagers who spoke to this publication said that they are struggling to find a solution to the crisis, which stems from poor infrastructure in Zhombe, such as bad roads, poor housing for teachers, and a lack of adequate classroom blocks.

Sibanda said the terrible state of the roads is the main reason for leaving.

“The condition of the roads makes it nearly impossible to travel to the urban areas. The teachers’ commutes became painfully long and expensive, making it too much for them to bear and at the end, they opt for urban areas,” he said.

He said the Zhombe community is working tirelessly to address the critical shortage of teachers by pooling resources to attract new teaching staff to the area.