Source: Schools not ready for exams: Teachers unions –Newsday Zimbabwe
TEACHERS’ unions have indicated that several schools countrywide are unprepared for final examinations, citing dilapidated infrastructure and other pressing issues.
The education sector in Zimbabwe has been affected by several challenges, including inadequate funding and lack of infrastructural development especially in resettlement area.
In an interview with NewsDay, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said besides poor infrastructure, primary and secondary schools were failing to pay utility bills and staff.
“Right now, we are in an examination season and we have a lot of learners, who have not been paying fees since 2022 and schools now have dilapidated furniture,” Taderera said.
“As we speak Grade Sevens, Ordinary levels, and Advanced levels should be writing their end of year examinations and schools are having difficulty finding desks where children can actually write on without scratches.
“So not only that, there are a hell lot of other issues like payment of ancillary staff, like maintenance of infrastructure, computers, procurement of furniture, payment of utilities like water and payment of salaries for our workers.
“So this compromised the running of schools or administration for quite a very long time.”
The government last week confirmed that Treasury had disbursed ZiG40 million under the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) in a bid to address the shortfall, which has existed since 2023.
This came after an outcry from teachers’ unions, who complained of operating from dry coffers.
In response to the Beam funds disbursement, Taderera urged the government to pay the remaining balances for the schools to operate smoothly.
“While it may have quite some significant impact on the administration, it is not enough,” he said.
“Government should just budget on paper as well as disburse Beam as opposed to a situation where it budgets on paper and do not release the funds and we begin to talk about years going backwards thereby affecting the smooth running of the schools.”
Taderera urged the government to make sure that it meets its commitments in good time for administrators not to have to “crack their heads trying to balance up the running of the schools”.
“The situation that we have now is something where we had gotten accustomed to a situation where the government does not pay, let alone going for two, three years without paying school fees (sic).
“We are in a situation where parents do not even pay because they say there is a policy where learners must not be chased or sent back home,” he said.
Taderera, however, applauded the government for the payment made to schools.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou also urged the government to disburse Beam funds in time to promote a quality education.
“Disbursing funds two or three years down the line can never be commended,” Zhou said.
“ Government has not been paying Beam funds since 2022 and ZiG40 million is insignificant considering the deficit amounts running into billions.
“The government must invest in quality public education and judiciously disburse adequate Beam funds to schools so that they can be used appropriately.
“Above it’s even less than half the money owed to schools in terms of beam funds. Justice delayed is justice denied (sic).”
However, Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro dismissed the teachers’ concerns, saying preparations for the national examinations had been done and Grade 7 examinations, which started yesterday, were running “smoothly”.
“Let me be unequivocal in stating that the administration of all public examinations is a top national priority and we have implemented a robust, multi-faceted plan to ensure their integrity and smooth running. I am pleased to advise that the 2025 public examinations have commenced,” he said.
“The Grade 7 examinations started smoothly across the country this morning and we are receiving positive reports from all provinces. This is a testament to the extensive preparatory work done by our teams on the ground.”
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