STAKEHOLDERS in the education sector have challenged the government to listen to the voices of parents, teachers and communities and take action to address the pressing issues affecting education in Zimbabwe.
In a joint statement, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said there was a need for continuous improvement of dialogue among all stakeholders to save the education sector from possible collapse and the moral decay afflicting the nation.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said there was also a need for improved performance by the government.
Both ARTUZ and PTUZ agreed on transparency on the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) so that it caters for vulnerable children.
“There is an urgent need to revamp Beam and ensure that deserving students and not relatives of elite politicians are beneficiaries and that the funds allocated to Beam are judiciously channelled to schools. We also call for the scrapping of Better Schools Programme funding by schools as parents do not see direct benefits emanating from the programme but schools are forced to pay US$1 to US$3 per child per term (and even for students who would not have paid fees) leaving schools without adequate resources for local development,” Zhou said.
Zhou said their constant engagement with communities had highlighted a decent work agenda that encompassed salaries above the poverty datum line, intrinsic motivation of teachers, good health facilities for teachers, learners and non-teaching staff, good infrastructure for learning, teachers' accommodation, toilets and access to clean water.
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro admitted that there was a need for a continuous working relationship among all stakeholders.
“We appreciate the proactive stance taken by the union to address the concerns of teachers and the wider community.
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“We value the input from ARTUZ and the communities we serve. Together, we can work towards solutions that enhance the education sector and support our educators and students,” Ndoro said.
He said government shared the vision of equitable access to quality education.
“We are open to discussing strategies that can help to reduce reliance on extra lessons without compromising educational outcomes.
“The principle of State-funded education is fundamental to our mission. We are actively seeking solutions to ensure that all children receive quality education without financial barriers,” Ndoro said.
He said government appreciated feedback regarding Beam and was “open to better serve the needs of our most vulnerable pupils”.
Ndoro said government understood the challenges posed by delays in fees payment.
“That's why we have said time and again, it is a parents’ obligation to pay fees on time and in full. We are committed to improving the processes to ensure that schools receive funding on time and all parents and guardians need to come to the party,” he said.
