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Reducing
shortage of teachers during economic crisis
By Leila Loupis,
UNESCO Harare |
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 In
1995 there was a shortage of 15 thousand primary school teachers
within Cameroon's education system (based on an average of 1
teacher for 50 students). Each school class held an average
of 120 to 150 students. As the country was in a period of economic
and employment crisis it was impossible for the government to
increase the number of public servants on their payroll. Teacher
training colleges had been closed for 4 years. |
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With
the help of community pressure, the Ministry of Education decided
to reopen the teacher training colleges, and also to create
another 9 more, bringing a total of 36 training colleges. But
once the young teachers had been trained, how could you integrate
them into the education system without being able to hire them
as public servants? |
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Innovative
financial management |
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Within
the Ministry of Education, funds were available within a budget
not allocated to pay salaries. The Ministry devised an innovative
strategy in the financial management of the new teachers, which
allowed them to hire the new graduates without fully integrating
them into the public service. An experimental solution was created
and the new teachers were offered contracts of limited duration,
normally for 10 months to cover the school year, which could
be renewed twice. The salary offered was low, but as the country
experienced a high unemployment, the young teachers did not
hesitate to accept the contracts offered. |
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Growth
of qualified teachers |
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During
the first year, 1600 teachers were hired on contracts of limited
duration, the following year 3200, and the following again
3200; in three years there was an increase in number of nearly
8000 within the teaching profession. At the end of July 1999,
another 3447 young teachers completed training and were integrated
into the education system. For the year 2000, in other words
5 years later, more than 20,000 teachers are either in training
or already working in the field - which largely surpasses
challenge that had been made 5 years earlier; to find 15,000
qualified teachers for the year 2000.
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But
if the teachers are only earning low salaries and do not have
secure career prospective, how can you motivate and retain them
within the education system? As of 1999, the Ministry will present
the National Assembly with a proposal to integrate 4000 teachers
per year into the public service, with the support of the World
Bank. |
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"Teachers
are the battle horse to reach the goal of Education for All.
Even during an economic crisis, all means should be put into
action to improve the quality and the quantity of the new generation
of young teachers". Says Mr. Yakouba Yaya, Director of primary,
pre-primary and basic education and National EFA 2000 Coordinator.
He emphasises the importance of searching locally for experimental
solutions to problems within the education sector. |
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