What started off as intermittent sobs that one would think will end within minutes morphed into an incessant lamentation that broke my heart.
By Tendai Makaripe
With his face buried in his small hands, Takura (not real name) wept uncontrollably, each attempt to speak between the wailing proved futile as emotions overpowered him.
The harsh reality of a bleak future threatening to turn him into a destitute stood in front of him and shoving it aside appeared to be a colossal task.
Losing his only uncle in a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of five other people was the genesis of his misfortunes.
This was a noble man who had taken it upon himself to cater for Takura’s daily upkeep including paying for his tuition fees following the death of his parents when he was still a prepubescent.
His demise mid-way through Takura’s advanced levels meant no one was there to pay his examination and tuition fees.
Endeavors to look for tuition fees from some family members proved ineffectual. Distraught and hopeless he went back to his parents’ rural home in Mrewa where he is struggling to put food on the table.
The writer, having been briefed of Takura’s ordeal by friends in one of his visits to Mrewa, had a sorrowful chat with the downhearted adolescent whose dream of enjoying academic success was shattered by one unfortunate event.
Takura’s situation is not an isolated one but is replayed in countless areas around the country where the death of a breadwinner almost signifies the demise of the future of promising young minds.
Latest statistics from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education indicate that more than 13 000 primary and secondary school pupils dropped out of school in 2013 with the preponderant number of drop outs being attributed to lack of school fees.
A 2013 Education Management System report released by the ministry late 2018 stated that the number of dropouts at primary education level increased from 23 percent in 2012 to 43 percent in 2013.
“At primary level, 2 784 students consisting of 1 646 males and 1 138 females dropped out because of school fees while 2 289 learners comprising 1 063 females and 1 226 males dropped out of secondary school because of school fees,” read the report in part.
These dropouts are a slap in the face of the Constitution whose Section 75 provides that “Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to a basic State-funded education, including adult basic education.”
Section 81 adds that “Every child, that is to say every boy and girl under the age of eighteen years, has the right (f) to education…”
This entails that children’s access to education should not be compromised by any life circumstance whatsoever.
A research carried out by academic Munyaradzi Mawere titled Causes and Effects of Girl Child Dropouts in Zimbabwean Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Chadzamira Secondary School, Gutu District published by the International Journal of Educational Research and Technology found out that from an economic perspective, dropouts cause under-utilisation of resources and faulty government planning.
“On the other hand, most of the street kids in the country are a consequence of school dropouts. All these problems constitute a socio-economic burden to the country thereby making dropouts a prejudice to the development of the community in which the school is found and the nation at large,” read the paper in part.
However, personal finance experts canvassed by this publication indicated that the high number of dropouts and related challenges can be circumvented if parents or guardians take up different educational policies offered by life assurance companies designed to provide funds for school going children upon retirement or death of the breadwinner.
These policies, they argued, are important because due to a plethora of issues, it is very easy for children’s academic life to die a natural death when their parents pass on.
“Unexpected deaths of parents exposes children to numerous challenges because our society has moved from the communal to nucleus families entailing that responsibility for the upkeep of orphans is no longer a communal role,” said Zimnat Life Assurance Company’s chief operating officer, Elizabeth Rabvukwa.
“The inadequacy or at times absence of former government social funds and safety nets means outside the resources provided by insurers the bereaved children have little else to look at for assistance,” added Rabvukwa.
Research has shown that education plans come with indifferent conditions with some specifically tailor made to cover secondary school going children while others have plans that cover all pupils from preschool to tertiary education whether the parent is alive or in the event of an untimely death after contributing for a stipulated number of months.
A thorough investigation of the different education plans offered in zimbabwe revealed that it is advantageous for parents or guardians to have these plans for their children as upon the death of a parent, benefits are paid out at intervals that coincide with the school terms or college semesters until the student completes the level of education covered by his or her plan.
However, in the event that the child in question dies, some plans allow the parent or guardian to nominate another beneficiary or to receive benefits meant for the deceased child when they become due.
Besides death, accidents can render some able bodied people incapacitated and unable to fend for their families.
Statistics from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe revealed that 2018 recorded an increase in road traffic collisions from 42 950 in 2017 to 52 052 in 2018 with the number of casualties going up from 10 584 to 11 924.
A significant number of those injured were breadwinners and some can no longer fend for their families.
Some life assurance companies also have education plans that ensure that children continue with their schooling in the event that a parent becomes disabled due to a visible, external accident or lose your life.
However, investigations by 263Chat revealed that a preponderant number of people do not take up these plans for their children because they view insurance as too elitist and not affordable for the average person.
“We are currently in an economic crisis and I find it very difficult to set aside any funds for unforeseen happenings,” said Harare resident, Tatenda Magadzire.
Added Magadzire: That can be done by affluent people not someone like me who is struggling to make ends meet. I would rather buy grocery items than pay an insurance premium.”
However, Rabvukwa demystified the misconception that insurance is expensive and elitist contending that there are numerous affordable products for everyone and the education plan is relatively cheap but highly beneficial in the long run.
“The notion that insurance is an elite product is not correct and can be attributed to a lack of understanding of insurance, its relevance and its importance. Things have now changed as more people have benefitted from insurance and communities have seen ordinary people benefit in the event of death of the main member or a loved one covered by the insurance policy,” explained Rabvukwa.
“The advent of micro insurance policies which are low premium from as little as $1 a month has also removed the elitist notion as even basic households and low income individuals can both access and afford insurance,” she added.
The Zimbabwean economy might be facing challenges but investing in a child’s education is an invaluable move which parents have to consider.
In the words of one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
