At least 200 Zimbabwean educators will this month leave for Rwanda after successfully completing the pre-departure training yesterday under a worker-exchange agreement struck between the two countries last year.
The two nations last year agreed to facilitate the seamless
recruitment of 477 Zimbabwean teachers.
After the flighting of the job adverts, more than 500
teachers tendered their curricula vitae and after background checks, 401 teachers
were shortlisted for the interviews that took place last month, with 224 making
the final cut.
In an interview, Permanent Secretary for Public Service,
Labour and Social Welfare Mr Simon Masanga said successful candidates who
undertook the pre-departure training held at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public
Administration and Management in Chegutu will leave on October 17.
“The recruitment process is still ongoing,” he said.
“So far we have completed the recruitment of at least 200
teachers and these, if all goes according to plan, will leave on October 17 in
a chartered plane.
“The pre-departure training by a team of experts from
Zimbabwe and the Embassy of Rwanda was for adequate orientation to ensure
requisite information is imparted to the Zimbabwean nationals before their
deployment.”
The training, Mr Masanga said, ensures the candidates have
the right information for integration and protection during their service in
Rwanda.
He said when the Ministry contacted the potential
candidates, some of them could not attend the physical pre-departure training,
with some having gone abroad for vacations, but promised to come back.
“We have some who couldn’t attend the physical training,
but there is an initiative that will see them undertake the training virtually
and will be given their contract offers before signing,” said Mr Masanga.
“We have given the successful candidates two weeks so that
they have ample time to make final preparations before they leave, including
bidding farewell to their families and workmates.”
Before the training, the educators went through interviews
in two phases; online written examinations and oral interviews which ended on
August 26 at five centres selected for the process across the country.
Permanent Secretary in the Rwandan Ministry of Education Mr
Charles Karakye, who led a delegation to supervise the interviews and the
pre-departure training, said the teachers had been offered “attractive”
packages.
“What I have to say is that the packages are attractive,”
he said.
“I can’t disclose the amount that we are giving, but this
is a water-tight project between two governments.”
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
Professor Paul Mavima said the expatriate teachers will be treated fairly in
Rwanda.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is going to insist on the
implementation of minimum conditions of service at the bi-national level,” he
said. “So, this is a better arrangement than the one where a teacher goes out
on their own to seek employment.”
Labour migration, Prof Mavima said, was an important
element of the Second Republic’s development thrust.
“We are ensuring that they will get conditions that will be
worthwhile for them and worthwhile for the country,” he said.
“So, there is no possibility of manipulation, especially
where we have structured something like this.
“Manipulation only comes where there is no Government
involvement when someone just leaves and goes to a destination without
involving the Government.”
These educators will be employed in Rwanda under four
categories: basic education, basic technical and vocational education and
training, polytechnic, and universities. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment