Understanding what is happening with teachers’ availability, training and quality is one of the most pre s s i n g issues facing education in Africa today. Over the past decade many African countries have been reducing their investments in teacher training and recruiting non-professional teachers both as a cost-cutting measure and as a q u i c k - fix solution to the teacher shortage. The full impact of this trend is only now being felt as the teaching p rofession fragments and learning outcomes deteriorate.