Press Statement
The ongoing community dialogue on the education crisis in Zimbabwe, spearheaded by parents and teachers, continues to highlight urgent issues that need immediate attention from both the government and relevant stakeholders. Recently, these dialogues were held in two communities, Binga and Seke, where parents, educators, and community leaders gathered to discuss critical concerns affecting the education sector.
Key Issues Raised:
Teacher Salaries: There is a pressing demand for the government to pay teachers a salary that is above the Poverty Datum Line (PDL). Parents and teachers alike expressed concern that current salaries are insufficient to meet basic living standards, which is affecting the quality of education and teacher morale.
Abolition of Extra Lessons: Parents raised concerns over the growing reliance on extra lessons, which place a financial burden on families and contribute to inequities in the education system. There is a call for the government to intervene and ensure that extra lessons are abolished and that quality education is provided during regular school hours.
Free Education: Parents are calling on the government to deliver on its promise of free education. There is frustration over the continuous financial burdens being placed on families despite government assurances of a free education system.
Social Workers in Schools: It was highlighted that each school should have a designated social worker to address the growing emotional and psychological challenges faced by students. Social workers are essential to ensuring that children are supported in both their academic and personal development.
Access to Clean Water: Another key demand is that every school should have a borehole to provide clean, running water for students. Access to clean water is fundamental to the health and well-being of learners, especially in rural areas.
Restructuring the BEAM Programme: Parents emphasized the need for a comprehensive restructuring of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) to ensure it effectively addresses the educational needs of vulnerable children.
Supplementary Budget for School Feeding Programme: The community dialogue participants called for an urgent supplementary budget to support the school feeding programme, which is crucial for student retention and performance, particularly in rural communities.
Timely Payment of School Fees: There was a unanimous call for the government to stop delaying the payment of school fees through the BEAM programme. Delays in funding and payments in local currency, which is rapidly devaluing due to inflation, have caused significant disruptions in the education process.
In a move to support education in rural areas, ARTUZ (Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe) recently handed over an Internet in a Box facility to a school in Binga. Internet in a Box is a digital library that students can access offline, without the need for an internet connection. To date, ARTUZ has donated 35 such facilities to various schools in rural areas, enabling students in remote regions to benefit from digital learning materials. This initiative is a step forward in bridging the digital divide and ensuring that rural schools have access to educational resources.
The ongoing community dialogues serve as a vital platform for raising awareness about the challenges facing the education system in Zimbabwe and for proposing viable solutions that can lead to sustainable improvements. It is clear that the time for action is now. The government must listen to the voices of parents, teachers, and communities, and take urgent steps to address the pressing issues affecting education in Zimbabwe.