By Kevin Tafara
HARARE — Minister of Primary and Secondary Education ,Torerayi Moyo has called for increased investment in public education, improved teacher welfare and additional teaching posts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s education system.
Speaking at the ZIMTA–Education International (EI) World Teachers’ Day commemoration at Harare Gardens on Saturday, 10 October 2026, Moyo said teachers were central to the country’s development ambitions and the attainment of Vision 2030.
He said investing in teachers was essential to building an educated, skilled and prosperous nation.
“Teachers are far more than members of the education workforce; they are the builders of our nation’s human capital and key partners in its socio-economic transformation,” said Moyo.
He added that supporting and recognising teachers was an investment in Zimbabwe’s future.
The minister acknowledged concerns raised by teachers regarding remuneration, conditions of service, staffing levels, classroom resources, accommodation and general welfare.
He encouraged continued engagement between the Government and teacher representative organisations, including the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), to address the challenges affecting the profession.
“In keeping with my Ministry’s open-door policy, I encourage continued, constructive engagement with ZIMTA and other teacher representative organisations,” he said.
Moyo said the Ministry would engage relevant Government institutions, including the ministries responsible for finance and public service, to ensure that teachers’ concerns received appropriate consideration.
He revealed that Treasury had approved 2,000 additional teaching posts in 2026, adding that the Ministry would continue advocating for more posts through the 2027 National Budget process.
Priority areas would include early childhood education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, technical subjects, and schools in hard-to-staff areas.
On education financing, Moyo said the Ministry had received a budget allocation of ZiG47.4 billion, approximately US$1.55 billion, in 2026.
He said the Ministry would continue advocating for adequate and predictable funding for school grants, the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), school feeding programmes, sanitary wear and infrastructure development.
Moyo also announced that the Teacher Professional Council Bill had been finalised following consultations involving the Attorney-General’s Office, teacher unions, civil society and international partners.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce mandatory teacher registration, professional standards, a code of ethics, accredited continuous professional development and disciplinary procedures.
According to Moyo, the Bill would strengthen the professional standing of teachers and promote accountability within the education sector.
He also highlighted improvements in education infrastructure, saying nearly 2,900 schools had been constructed between 2020 and 2024 through Government, partner and community efforts.
Early childhood enrolment had increased from 27 percent to 43 percent, while school dropouts declined by approximately 20 percent in 2025, he said.
The minister further urged teachers and learners to uphold examination integrity as Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations commenced on 12 October 2026.
He commended the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) for introducing traceable question papers and personalised answer sheets to strengthen examination security.
Moyo said public education remained a shared national responsibility, with Section 75 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to basic State-funded education.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme “Stand with Teachers — Go Public! Fund Education,” highlighting the need to support teachers and adequately resource public schools.
“The national vision of an empowered and prosperous Zimbabwe by 2030 depends in no small measure on the quality of education we provide today,” said Moyo.
“When we invest in teachers, we invest in learners; when we strengthen public education, we strengthen the future of our country.”