Source: Stakeholders call for inquiry as females dominate teaching – herald
Mkhululi Ncube
Bulawayo Bureau
A WORRYING trend has emerged across Zimbabwe’s teacher training institutions, where the number of enrolling male students continues to decline, in a development that has raised concerns about gender balance within the education sector.
Recent graduation ceremonies at various colleges across the country highlight this disparity, with statistical data and teacher demographics showing a dwindling number of males taking teaching as a profession of choice.
At the United College of Education (UCE), during its 57th graduation held recently, a total of 505 students graduated — 464 females and only 41 males.
Similarly, Hillside Teachers’ College, which held its graduation in August, saw 325 graduates, comprising 227 females and 98 males.
In Matabeleland South province, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic reported 132 female graduates with primary teaching qualifications, compared to just eight males.
At the secondary level, out of 110 graduates, 80 were females and only 30 males.
At Belvedere Teachers’ College in Harare, 672 students graduated — 514 females and 158 males; while Seke Teachers’ College in Chitungwiza saw 621 female graduates against 41 males.
The growing trend was noted by Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Simelisiswe Sibanda at the UCE graduation ceremony, where he called for the trend to be interrogated.
“Today’s cohort comprises 464 females (91,9 percent) and only 41 males (8,1 percent). This demographic shift underscores the growing influence of women in shaping Zimbabwe’s educational and industrial future.
“However, the low male representation signals a concerning decline in male enrolment at teachers’ colleges, which requires strategic intervention.”
He added: “While our commitment to equity and empowerment remains strong, we must investigate systemic factors contributing to this imbalance and ensure deliberate nurturing of leadership across all genders.”
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s 2024 Annual Statistical Report provides further insight.
It indicates that Zimbabwe employs a total of 153 453 teachers: 88 413 at primary level, 48 298 at secondary level and 16 742 at early childhood development (ECD) stage.
However, male representation remains disproportionately low. At the ECD level, only 3 219 of the trained teachers are male, compared to over 13 523 females.
“Female ECD teachers outnumber their male counterparts across both rural and urban areas, regardless of training status.
“Of the 14 549 teachers employed by the Public Service Commission in ECD, only 2 915 are male,” he said.
At the primary level, there are 33 581 trained male teachers against 54 832 females.
The total number of teachers employed by the Public Service Commission at this level is 82 448, with 31 508 males and 50 940 females — a significant gender disparity.
The situation is somewhat more balanced at the secondary level, where 22 874 males and 25 424 females are employed — a difference of just over 2 500.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu attributes the decline in male teachers to the emigration of young men seeking better opportunities abroad, leading to a brain drain in the profession.
Harare-based education expert Dr Peter Kwaira emphasises the need for comprehensive research into the matter.
He suggests girls have historically outperformed boys in public examinations, which could explain the lower number of males qualifying to enter the teaching profession and calls for further investigation.
The worry, however, is that the declining number of male teachers poses a challenge to achieving gender balance and diversity within Zimbabwe’s education sector.
Stakeholders say addressing the systemic factors behind this trend will be crucial for ensuring a balanced and inclusive future for Zimbabwean education.
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