Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
THE Government says it is all systems go for the opening of schools as all heritage-based materials have been deployed on time while plans are underway for the recruitment of at least eight thousand teachers to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio.
As school term begins this Tuesday, the government has put in place mechanisms to ensure all schools open, while also introducing the heritage-based curriculum.
Responding to questions from journalists during a ministerial briefing at the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services boardroom at Munhumutapa Building in Harare this Monday, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerai Moyo said all is in place for the commencement of the new term for students.
“We are ready for the opening of schools and it is all systems go. We have trained the supervisors to implement heritage-based education and teachers drive the curriculum. All teachers’ guides, and syllabuses have been sent throughout the country. CALA was last written last year and this year they are going to use School-based projects for every subject,” Honourable Moyo.
The government is also aware of the shortage of teachers, hence plans to recruit eight thousand teachers this year.
“We are expecting to recruit 8 000 teachers and mind you we have decentralised the recruitment of teachers and this is meant to deal with pupil-teacher ratio from the current ratio of 1:40,” Minister Moyo said.
In terms of access to education, the government built 104 schools last year and 300 classroom blocks.
“We received the biggest vote of ZWG 46 billion meant for the construction of new schools, we had a deficit of 3000 schools and now we are at 2600 schools. The government is happy with the progress made so far,” said the Minister.
The Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said the government is working tirelessly to ensure connectivity within schools as a way of supporting e-learning strategy.
“The rolling out of connectivity is ongoing while the training of teachers to ensure e-learning. 1500 schools annually are the target to expansion of e-learning and this will cover all schools by 2030,” Dr Muswere said.
Other issues that emerged from the briefing include the setting up of innovation hubs at schools, the proliferation of illegal schools, the provision of free education which is currently taking place in various forms, and the demand for payment for extra lessons remains illegal and school authorities have been warned against coercing parents to purchase uniforms from schools.
