CHILANGA member of parliament Sipho Hlazo has raised concern over teacher shortages in the district, revealing that efforts are underway to address a gap in teaching personnel with plans to push for more staff allocations in future recruitment drives.
Speaking during Teacher’s day commemoration on Friday, Hlazo revealed that the district remains understaffed by around 250 teachers, despite recent efforts to boost education staffing.
He stated that since 2021, 206 teachers have been added to the district’s workforce, bringing the total number of about 1,300.
“The shortage of teaching staff remains a concern. I intend to lobby the Ministry of Education to prioritise Chilanga in the next round of teacher recruitments,” he said.
The MP added that improving teacher numbers and support systems remains a top priority.
He also contributed a total of K30,000 towards the event.
Meanwhile, Hlazo said education in Chilanga has seen several infrastructure upgrades funded through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
“Projects have included classroom and toilet block construction, distribution of thousands of desks, electrification of schools, and provision of mattresses for boarding students,” he disclosed.
“Additional developments such as laboratories, teacher housing, and new school buildings, are underway through partnerships with various organisations.”
While acknowledging government investments in education, Hlazo stressed that staff shortages and learning conditions in many schools still need urgent attention.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba October 5, 2025
