Zambia: 1,558 teachers idle as rural schools lack staff
Copperbelt Province Minister Emmanuel Kasambo revealed that 1,247 teachers in Kitwe alone are not assigned to classes.
Approximately 1,558 teachers in Kitwe and Ndola are reportedly receiving government salaries without assigned duties, while rural schools face severe teacher shortages. Copperbelt Province Minister Emmanuel Kasambo stated that Kitwe District has an excess of 1,247 teachers, including 548 secondary and 699 primary school teachers, who are not currently assigned to any classes.
Kasambo disclosed this situation on November 11, 2026, highlighting the incongruity of idle teachers in urban areas while remote schools struggle with staffing. The minister indicated that the government plans to address this imbalance by reassigning teachers to areas with critical needs.
The provincial administration is set to implement measures to ensure all teachers are deployed to schools where their services are required. This move aims to improve educational access and quality in underserved rural districts across the province.
Why it mattersRural schools in Zambia face teacher shortages, impacting student education.