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{
    "id": 140704,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/140704/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 485,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "certain schools which have one or two teachers, and we expect them to perform at the same standards of other schools which are fully staffed. This is one area that is a big challenge to the Ministry. The Ministry should find ways of balancing the distribution of teachers up to the rural schools. In my constituency, for instance, you will find a school with eight classrooms being served by only three teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The rest are PTA teachers, which is an extra burden to the parents. So, we are challenging the Minister and the Ministry to look into this problem with a view to addressing it very seriously. This is because when we make these comments, we expect them to be taken very seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have just had the creation of new districts in this country. This is another very big challenge to the Ministry. If you go to a District Education Officer’s (DEO’s) office, you will find that he cannot operate normally like he is expected to do. This is because he has no office in the first place. I have seen a budget for building new district headquarters. Maybe this might resolve the problem if it is properly handled, so that the new districts that have come up also get a share of that allocation. It will assist in their working and performance of duty. Transport is also a problem. A District Education Officer (DEO) of a district which is in a rural area cannot perform by just being in the office. He needs to move around to see how schools are performing. But because of the limitations which are there, they cannot perform as expected. So, it is another challenge that I feel the Ministry should take up. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is a problem of recruitment of teachers. In this country, the entry point to teacher training colleges has been raised. It is grade C and above. Certain areas cannot meet that criterion. Therefore, people from other areas who have flooded the market take advantage of these areas. They are enrolled in these teacher training colleges and then they come back to teach for one or two months and then they disappear, hence creating a shortage. How can this problem be addressed? That is another big challenge. When these teachers are recruited in the respective areas, they should come back and teach in those areas for a specified period which is reasonable, instead of them just using those districts as stepping stones and then, once they graduate, they run away. That is another area which is also a problem. I beg to support the Vote."
}