Zimbabwe’s rural teachers will tomorrow converge in Marondera to discuss what they have termed the failure by the government to address the country’s educational challenges through the introduction of the new curriculum.
By Mlondolozi Ndlovu
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary education at the beginning of this year introduced a new education curriculum which seeks to empower students with life skills as recommended by the 1999 Nziramasanga commission.
Critics of this new curriculum argue that the Ministry rushed in its bid to revolutionaries the education sector with some seeing it as an attempt by the Zanu PF government to indoctrinate learners.
Amalgmated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ) of Zimbabwe have said they are meeting in the country’s Mashonaland East province at a forum duped Toda Kudyawo/Si’funa ukudla to discuss the new education curriculum among other challenges affecting the education sector.
“The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) will tomorrow, 10 June 2017 host a Toda Kudyawo/ S’funa ukudla Teachers Forum in Marondera, Mashonaland East,
“Top on the agenda of the indaba is to discuss the challenges faced by teachers in rural areas in the forced implementation of the ‘Dokora curriculum’ (also read as new curriculum). In provinces already visited and in a study conducted by ARTUZ, teachers in rural areas have concluded that the curriculum fails to address gaps raised in the Ndziramasanga Commission (1999) and is incompatible with Zimbabwe’s developmental demands and objectives,” said the Obert Masaraure led union in a statement.
The teachers also bemoaned the lack of budgetary support to the Ministry which was hampering the development of school going children.
“Further, the curriculum also lacks budgetary support while simultaneously raising the cost of education even at elementary stages such as Early Child Development (ECD) and primary level. A case in point is the US$6.00 examination registration fee for grade seven pupils which has increased the dropout rates at that eve by 30%,” they added.
The militant organisation also expressed their anger at the recent politicisation of education sector by the ruling party Zanu PF adding that they would discuss the plight of teachers who are forced to attend Zanu PF rallies.
