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By Dr Takavafira Zhou

Ptuz is puzzled that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has purportedly designed a catch up strategy without engaging teachers. The Ministry’s director of communications, Taungana Ndoro, claimed that the Ministry had designed an accelerated learning strategy that would be used when schools open. Sadly, teachers and teacher unions have not been engaged in this strategy.

This command education, self pollination and unilateralism has no traction. Ministry officials must be reminded that the best educational reforms are those that are a product of broad consultation with teachers as implementers. Any reforms that do not enjoy the support of teachers would be very difficult to implement.

It is Ministry unilateralism, intransigence and irresponsible approach that led to reopening of schools without adequate preparations to combat covid 19 last year with the consequent escalation of covid 19 positive cases in schools.

The catch up strategy that teachers will embrace is that over their salaries that were unilaterally reduced by gvt from US$550 to the current US$140 (inclusive of housing, transport and covid alowances). Any so called catch up strategy without motivation of teachers would be futile. At any rate anything for teachers without their input is against them.

We respect former Ministers of Education such as Dzingai Mutumbuka, Fay Chung and David Coltart. But we want to warn Dr Chung that her closetion with radio lessons in a country where more than 70% of the country has no radio frequency is misplaced. Her alleged claim that every homestead has a radio does not resonate with reality in the rural areas. Dr Chung did much for our education system but has certainly lost touch with the educational terrain after her departure from the ministry.

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz Preaident)

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