MORE than 22 000 people have appended their signatures to a petition calling on the government to invest more in the education sector, NewsDay has established.
According to the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz), this was after calls for broad-based advocacy by teachers, parents and community-based organisations following the union’s one-week protest as schools opened for the first term two weeks ago.
In a statement, Artuz said 22 567 individuals signed the petition advocating for increased investment in education.
“Seventy-two teach-outs were conducted, showcasing innovative solutions and grassroots efforts to sustain learning under challenging circumstances,” the teachers’ body said.
“These milestones reflect a growing collective commitment to advancing education in Zimbabwe. We are pleased to announce that the signed petitions will be submitted to government on a day to be announced.
“This will mark a crucial step in holding policymakers accountable and amplifying our collective demands for a better education system.”
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The Education Week spotlighted the urgent issues faced by schools and communities, including infrastructural deficits, with schools lacking proper facilities, furniture and learning materials.
“Teacher shortages that leave classrooms overcrowded and undermine the quality of education. Communities like those in Chiredzi, where students and teachers are forced to cross flooded rivers due to lack of safe infrastructure, (are) exposing the extent of government neglect,” the union said.
Artuz also called on stakeholders — government, educators, parents, non-governmental organisations and community leaders — to work together to address these challenges.
“We urge the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to acknowledge the reality on the ground and champion increased financial support for education. Let us continue to advocate, innovate and collaborate for the betterment of our children’s futures,” the union said.
“As we close Education Week, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building an education system that leaves no child behind. Quality education is not a privilege but a right and it must be prioritised in Zimbabwe’s national development agenda.”
The Union further challenged the government to look into issues of underfunding of the education sector including lack of seriousness in implementing the new Heritage-Based Curriculum.
“Teachers remain untrained for this curriculum, which has not been backed by adequate financial resources or the provision of updated syllabi.
“The gap between policy and implementation has left both teachers and students struggling, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” Artuz said.