By Dr Takavafira Zhou.
Harare Zimbabwe (News Of The South) – As Ptuz we welcome the closure of Colleges, Polytechnics and Universities following covid 19 case at Chinhoyi University. What worries us is the irresponsible and intransigent approach Prof Murwira had commandeered tertiary institutions to open, in a manner reminiscent to Hon Cain Matema’s futility in schools.
To champion the opening of education institutions without testing students and educators who had been scattered across the country and region and at a time there is a quantum leap of covid 19 cases, was the worst lunacy ever seen in human history. While Cain Matema can be forgiven for his lack of educational taxonomy, it is baffling that the reasonable Prof Murwira that we know since our student days together, has suddenly lost his academic and professional ethics, rigorous analysis and engagement after becoming a Minister. All the same the belated decision to close the institutions and defer reopening of others, is good news to us after labouring for this for a long time.
We are happy that despite many that blamed us and falsely claimed we were pursuing a political agenda, history has silenced this propaganda trajectory. History has absolved us so soon and we are elated. We reiterate our long held view that blame us it doesnt matter, history will always absolve us. For the avoidance of doubt, as a teacher trade union, we have a locus standi with what happens in tertiary education as colleges and Universities produce members that join the teaching profession. So we want to remind Prof Murwira that we are an interested part lest he once again accuse us of trespassing into his domain. We urge gvt to learn to consult professionals in future rather than to proceed by hap-hazardous muddling and meddling through.
We also challenge lecturers in tertiary institutions to wake up from their deep slumber. Lecturers were complicity in covid 19 genocide by their silence when Prof Murwira ordered the institutions to prematurely open. Lecturers in tertiary institutions must never be driven like cattle to an unknown pasture. Institutions of Higher and Tertiary Education generate ideas through research that must guide politicians, policy formulation and decision making in a country, regionally, continentally and globally. When educational gurus in Universities are silently commandeered to do wrong things for whatever reason, then universities would have ceased to play their key role in society, more so in the 21st century.
Several students that travelled to Colleges across the country on 20 and 21 July were greatly inconvenienced as they only learnt that reopening had been deferred after paying more than US$50 on transport costs only. Several University students writing examinations are also unsettled and worried that they may be infected by covid 19 pandemic in the next two days before they leave their respective Universities. Such a crime committed against students and educators must never be repeated in future. Decisions must always be a product of logical disputation and meaningful engagement, rather than mere imposition. It is our hope that government would invest in a robust elearning system during the lockdown and post lockdown periods, rather than merely focus on payment of fees by students. There is also need to protect students from paying exorbitant fees for services that would never see the light of the day. Gvt must surely invest in the health, safety and welfare of educators and students in order to foster sustainable development.
Venceremos
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)
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