By Dr Takavafira Zhou
Ptuz calls for a paradigm shift in educational pedagogy in Zimbabwean schools in light of escalation of covid 19 cases. This rules out the possibility of face to face learning in Zimbabwe any time soon. Opening schools any time soon would be a monument of Zimbabwean injustice and callous, given our inability to test 136000 teachers, almost 6 million pupils and many ancillary staff members, before conglomeration in schools. Above all, bloated classes, limited infrastructure, congested hostels and lack of adequate covid abatenent equipment in schools, have cumulatively contributed to the spread of covid 19 in schools. Schools would most likely open in mid September 2021 when temperatures would be higher enough to suppress the rampant spread of covid 19 cases.
It is, therefore, prudent to adopt new pedagogies in order to assist pupils until the environment can allow face to face learning in schools. Such pedagogical methods must seriously take into consideration class and subject whatsApp learning initiated by teachers. All what teachers would want are data bundles supplied by gvt.
Such methods also call upon parents and relatives to avail their phones to our pupils for learning purposes. We are aware in some families there are more than 4 phones that can be used for learning. We also urge gvt to approach organisations such as Unicef to assist with provision of learning gadgets to pupils from poor backgrounds and those living with disabilities. The efficacy of radio and television lessons in a country without radio and television frequencies in 75% of the areas where learners reside is questionable.
We also urge gvt to urgently address the welfare of teachers in order to intrinsically motivate them to continue to assist learners in these hard times. Gvt must always broadly engage teachers unions in order to collectively shape the best reforms for the education system, let alone guarantee successful implementation of educational reforms as teachers are critical actors as implementers of policies and reforms.
*Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)*
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