A threat by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to dismiss teachers in Matabeleland South’s Bulilima district for recording a zero pass rates in the past five years has renewed focus on the neglect of rural schools in the country The circular has sparked outrage among education unions, who accuse authorities of failing to address systemic challenges facing rural schools Zimbabwe’s rural schools are crippled by systemic neglect, underfunding, and teacher attrition, perpetuating cycles of poverty While non-governmental organisations and parliamentary efforts highlight solutions -like infrastructure investment and teacher incentives -the government’s failure to meet constitutional education guarantees remains the core challenge
Many schools operate without electricity, proper classrooms, or furniture, forcing students to learn under trees or in dilapidated structures Learners walk up to 20 km daily, with young children, especially in early childhood development (ECD), unable to cope, leading to high dropout rates Some schools share one book among five pupils, and lack science labs, ICT equipment, or even chalkboards Reports last week said teachers in Bulimia were facing disciplinary action for recording zero pass rates mainly in subjects that include Heritage Studies, Geography, Combined Science and Mathematics
In a circular addressed to Bulilima district secondary school heads, Bulilima district schools inspector (DSI), Gobile Gobile, said a number of schools in the district recorded zero pass rates in the past five years “Schools of focus that have recorded zero pass rate in the past five years include Zenzele (Heritage Studies; Geography; Combined Science; Mathematics), Ntunungwe (Mathematics), Mzwanyana (Agriculture; Commerce; English; Combined Science), Mazwaligwe (Agriculture; Geography), Maqhekeni (Mathematics), Madlambudzi (Combined Science), Himago (Mathematics), Matjinge (Mathematics) and Siyaphambili (Mathematics),” his circular reads in part “Heads of schools listed above should go through the pupils’ answer scripts and attach a detailed report attached to the subject marks schedule “Any 0% record from the teachers this year will attract a charge for incompetence that will result in a member’s discharge from service
“For the past fiveyears teachers of the above subjects have been scoring 0% and that can’t be tolerated anymore.”
In response, unions representing teachers said punishing educators for results largely influenced by inadequate resources is unjust and counterproductive The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) strongly condemned the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s move, labelling it as misinformed and unfair Source: The Standard Zimbabwe
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Source: Thestandard
