First, the primary and secondary teachers had threatened to strike if the government cannot give them their bonuses, recently all state universities lecturers had gone on strike in protest over unpaid bonuses and January salaries.
The economic system in Zimbabwe has not been a better one as we continue to rely on foreign currency mainly the US dollar and the SA rand.The paying of salaries has been an issue for the government as sometimes, there are reports of late payments for teachers and all.
Buying of textbooks for students and lack of infrastructure continues to undermine the education system. The overcrowding at schools has led to a practice known as “hot seating”, in which
some children attend morning classes and others attend afternoon
classes.
Hyperinflation has prevented the publication of school textbooks. “In
some schools, as many as 15 pupils share a textbook, while in some
rural schools only the teacher had a bedraggled textbook.
(students sharing a textbook)
Pass rates have dropped as some best experienced teachers have moved to other countries in search of greener pastures. It is estimated that at least 20,000 teachers left the country between 2007 and 2009.
Zimbabwe's education system, once regarded as the finest on the
continent, was a casualty but many issues including the financial meltdown have largely disturbed the education system.
"The education malaise was widely blamed on hyperinflation, which made
teachers’ salaries worthless and funding for school materials and
maintenance impossible," this was something said by the former minister of education, David Coltart.
One day we are hoping that tables will turn and we can be able to provide the best students in education in the continent again.
