The ManicaPost
News Editor
Cletus Mushanawani
CHILDREN are the future and to carve them to achieve, all stakeholders needs to join forces in providing them with the requisite education so that they will go on to become a pillar of the nation’s growth.
The foremost task during the Covid-19 era is to impart better and quality education regardless of the prevailing scenario.
With calls to de-congest the learning environment, the demand for learning places at primary and secondary schools is increasing annually. Existing structures are failing to cope, thereby leaving some learners stranded.
Calls for the construction of more schools are getting louder with each passing days, but resources are proving to be a prohibiting factor.
Parents have also been found wanting as school authorities are blaming them for failing to pay development levies, leaving them without funds for the construction of new classroom blocks.
Although the availed 2014 Zimstat statistics showed that the number of primary schools more than doubled from just 2 401 in 1979 to 5 863 in 2014; while secondary schools increased from 177 to 2 424 during the same period, the situation has remained dire.
Some of the learners are now being accommodated in makeshift structures, while others are being forced to enrol at sub-standard private institutions, which do not have required facilities like sports fields. Some school have been forced to introduce hot-sitting.
This has also been blamed for the poor pass rates being recorded at national examinations as teachers are now grappling with an increased workload.
Slow learners suffer the brunt, as teachers will be biased towards high fliers.
Government has acknowledged the deficit in the number of schools.
According to the Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Ambassador Cain Mathema, Zimbabwe had a deficit of about 3 000 schools, both primary and secondary, across the country last year.
In 2019, Government managed to construct 17 schools, while private organisations and individuals contributed 150.
Speaking in Parliament recently, Minister Mathema said: “As we speak, we need at least 3 000 more schools and more teachers and only last week we employed over 3 000 teachers. Currently, there are at least 6 288 and 2 871 primary and secondary schools.
“We need more investment in the education, not only from central Government, not only from local authorities, but also from the private sector, so this means the economy has to perform better to increase the resources available.”
The increases in school fees at most boarding and private institutions have forced parents to turn to more affordable Government schools.
But perhaps what is even more worrisome is the sprouting of bush-boarding facilities. These are often cheaper lodgings at business centres, where the children stay closer to the school during the week and go back home during weekends.
Spurred by the need to ensure quality education, the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland of the Church of Central Province of Africa is seriously considering the privatisation of some of its high flying institutions in the province.
The church, which houses schools like St Augustine’s, St Faith’s, St David’s Bonda, St Anne’s Goto, St Mary’s Magadalene and St Matthias Tsonzo, has been charging a mission centre fee of us$500 at its institutions. The fee has generated its fair share of debate, with some arguing that this is the church’s first step towards privatisation of its institutions.
Diocesan bishop, Bishop Eric Ruwona defended the move.
“Our infrastructure that include classrooms, teacher accommodation and dormitories has been deteriorating as most parents do not want to cater for the maintenance and development of the existing infrastructure.
“We cannot even think of establishing new schools due to lack of resources,” said Bishop Ruwona.
Diocesan registrar, Mr Ashel Mutungura, said the idea of privatising some of Anglican’s institutions was mooted after wide consultations.
“Wide consultations were done, we are not going to be imposing anything on the stakeholders. What is crucial is quality education. We are not after the anticipated monetary gains, but the best and most conducive learning environment for our students. We intend to construct more schools in the near future if enough revenue is made available,” he said.
Mr Mutungura dismissed notions that Anglican institutions will have parallel educational programmes.
“So far we only know of two examination boards – the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council and Cambridge. Our pupils are being examined through these boards.
“We have also embraced Government’s competent based education curriculum in all our institutions,” he said.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said churches enjoy autonomy as responsible authorities for the institutions they ran.
“While Government is responsible for the administration of the Education Act, churches and trusts are some of the recognised responsible authorities of some schools. Government get a certain percentage of the paid fees, but most of the money collected is retained by these institutions.
“Government is rolling out the competence based curriculum and this is what should be taught in all schools. Besides that, we expect pupils to sit for Zimsec examinations regardless of which institution they are enrolled in. Enrolment of children at particular schools is usually a choice made by parents depending on their financial capacity,” said Mr Ndoro.
He added: “Whether privatised or not, Government has the final say on the curriculum. We will be glad to have more new players investing in the education sector and this will also create more classes for our pupils.”
A financial analyst, Mr Ranga Makwata, said privatisation of schools is not a new phenomenon.
“This is already happening in some schools and St Ignatius College is one such institution. Mission schools have contributed immensely to the education of many people and the development of the country,” he said.
