THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry is headed for a showdown with teachers based in rural areas following reports of a poor turnout during the first week of the 2025 first term.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) claimed three out of 10 teachers attended classes when schools opened last week.
Government officials, however, dismissed the reports as false, adding that they were aimed at tarnishing its programmes.
The ministry’s director of communication and advocacy Taungana Ndoro said the ministry “strongly rejects the unfounded and deceptive claims” made by Artuz.
He, however, called for collaboration with unions as a vital tool for enhancing the educational landscape and addressing the needs of teachers and pupils.
“We, therefore, reject these allegations by Artuz with the seriousness they warrant and urge stakeholders to seek information from credible sources.
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“Our commitment remains unwavering: every child deserves quality education in a conducive environment. We invite stakeholders to engage with us openly to address any concerns or questions.
“The integrity of our education sector is robust and we will not be deterred by attempts to diminish its accomplishments,” Ndoro said.
However, Artuz secretary-general Robson Chere hit back saying, while they appreciated the ministry’s efforts to engage with the union’s they wanted to address the serious inaccuracies and misleading claims made in its statement.
“Artuz’s report, grounded in factual data collected directly from teachers and school-based observations, accurately reflects the state of attendance.
“Unfortunately, the ministry’s response seems motivated more by a need to deflect from the real issues than to acknowledge the sector's profound challenges,” he said.
Chere said exaggerated claims of a 100% attendance rate by the ministry were both laughable and alarming as they served to mask the systemic failures that continued to cripple our education system.
“The ministry’s reliance on setting up command centres to monitor attendance is a clear indication of the deep-rooted crisis within the sector.
“The fact that such measures are necessary reveals a failure of governance and oversight in managing both teacher and student participation,” he said.
Chere bemoaned the haemorrhaging of talent in the sector with approximately 400 teachers leaving per month due to uncompetitive working conditions.
“This attrition rate cannot be described as progress in any form. While the ministry deflects attention with inflated attendance figures, the lack of essential resources paints a bleak picture.
“At the start of the school term, there were no syllabi provided to schools, and teachers are yet to be adequately trained in the new heritage-based curriculum.
“These deficiencies demonstrate that progress is not being made, but rather, the situation is regressing. Moreover, Artuz firmly rejects the ministry’s characterisation of our union as resistant to dialogue.”
He said Artuz wanted meaningful and inclusive discussions that focused on the genuine concerns of teachers.
“The ministry’s attempt to present a compliant union, aligned only with their narrative and controlled by a select few, serves to further isolate the voices of those who experience the reality of the crisis firsthand.
“Artuz is proud of its people-centred approach, which reflects the true realities on the ground. We remain committed to exposing any attempts to sugarcoat the severe challenges facing the education sector,” he said.
Chere said Artuz and government officials should engage in meaningful discussions on these critical issues.
“We stand ready to assist in providing a clearer understanding of the dire state of the education system. This dire situation requires immediate attention and action.
“We call for the introduction of a US$200 hardship allowance for teachers, which will help to mitigate the financial barriers preventing educators from attending work,” he said.