MUTARE– A leading human rights organization has called for an inquiry into the underlying causes of dismal Grade seven results and deteriorating education standards in the country.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said systemic challenges in the education sector were weakening schools making them less conducive for students to thrive.
In a press statement released to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, ZLHR called upon state and none-state actors to take coordinated steps to formulate policies, initiatives and mechanisms to support and increase the participation of women and girls in science.
ZLHR said the policies should ensure that marginalized females- that recorded a 39.67 percent pass rate outperforming their male counterparts (34.42 percent), are afforded an opportunity to obtain quality foundational primary education.
“The Grade 7 examinations pass rate is a worrying sign that many schools are not environments in which students can thrive. 88 schools had a 0 percent pass rate while Matabeleland provinces were the most affected.
“The government is therefore enjoined to investigate the underlying reasons for the poor pass rates in the Grade 7 examinations and formulate comprehensive plans to rectify any inadequacies in the primary school system.
“This will ensure that women and girls are afforded an opportunity to obtain the quality primary education that forms the basis for further studies in STEM-related subjects and careers in science,” read part of the statement.
Teacher unions also blame government for years of failure to improve learning standards, while the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) predictably also blamed the fall on the Covid-19 pandemic which shut down almost all sectors, including schools.
Despite this overall decline and dismal performance in sciences, pass rates in languages, including Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Venda, Shangaan, and Kalanga were impressive – all above 65 percent, while Sotho and Tonga recorded 54.62 percent and 52.38 percent scores, respectively.
Similarly, in Manicaland province excellent results were achieved in indigenous languages, as opposed to performances in English Language, Mathematics, Agriculture and General Paper, with Mutare schools — Chancellor, Mutare Junior and Baring — emerging the best, second and third best performers in the province.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED), Edward Shumba a total of 661 candidates who sat for the 2020 Grade 7 examinations in Manicaland attained five units.
Shumba said the provincial pass rate would likely be released in three weeks as schools have to calculate their pass rates before sending them to their respective districts for onward transmission to the provincial offices for collating.
“Manicaland had 661 learners with five units, and this is commendable. Although the pass rate per school is difficult to say at the moment, obviously there are schools that did not do so well. Those schools that did not do well must go back to the drawing board and re-strategize,” said Mr Shumba.
Government recommends the use Performance Lag Address Programme (PLAP) to address anomalies in the performance of schools, targeting pupils who drop out due to either financial challenges or on account of poor performance.
Amalgamated Rural Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe (ATRUZ) secretary general Robson Chere however says dilapidated infrastructure, lack of requisite stationery, low morale of teachers and non-teaching staff were major contributors to low pass rate of pupils.
He said it appeared as government was oblivious for the need of a rescue package to address key issues affecting the Education sector, encompassing mining and rural areas where vulnerable communities reside.
“We have engaged the government on numerous occasions but their response has been ignorant and regretful as they seem not to care, yet our education standards continue going down,” said Chere.
