Teacher shortage hits Choma School

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes

A SHORTAGE of teachers at Halumba Primary School in Choma, Sothern Province, has worried the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) .
PTA chairperson, Patrick Munachoonga said that it was worrying to note that over 600 pupils at the school were catered for by 10 teachers.

Mr. Munachoonga complained that it was one of the reasons the school had not been performing well during exams because classes were congested and pupils found it difficult to get everything from the exhausted teachers.
In an interview with the Sun, Mr Munachoonga wondered wondered why the school had a small number of teachers when it was one of the lucky ones to have enough accommodation stressing that some houses were not even occupied.
Government however said it was aware of the challenges the school faced and was doing everything possible to have that problem solved.
Choma District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Agripah Simatimbe said that his office was aware of what the school was going through like many schools were facing in the district.
Mr. Simatimbe said that the challenge would be alleviated through a teacher recruitment to be done as promised by government.
He however encouraged schools not to give up building houses in instances where the capacity existed as government would soon deploy teachers.