School closures I

"On average 70% of both primary and secondary schools are currently closed and students are staying at home."

- Tongai Mushangwe reports from Chikomba District in Zimbabwe -

The learning process in primary and secondary schools has been greatly affected by the economic situation prevailing in the country. The political agreement, which was signed on the 15th of September, raised a lot of hopes and enthusiasm in Zimbabwe as a whole. The general expectations among the ordinary Zimbabweans where that a new era was dawning and life would be better but it's not the case. The unresolved political and economic crisis is leading to further damaging social problems.

Teachers are not coming to work because they earn little and cannot afford the day-to-day basics. Before the final term of the year opened, teachers were developing a 'wait and see' attitude hoping that the Ministry of Education would address their grievance. Some say it's not worth going to work anymore and even if you get paid, it will take you the whole month of queuing at the bank to get your own cash out. Salaries range between Zim$ 71000 to $91000 which will buy you absolutely nothing! The government makes monthly adjustments for all civil servants at the end of each month but with the current runaway inflation it's difficult to make ends meet. Transport and food costs rise by over 100% every month.

Some Universities are temporarily shut for this current semester because lecturers are on an indefinite strike. Only private universities like Solusi Seventh Day University, Catholic University and Africa University have stayed open.

Government primary and secondary schools are the most affected. Private schools and some Mission boarding schools are not experiencing this problem because of extra funding from the SDA. Schools like Daramombe, Kwenda Methodist School and St Francis of Assisi High School of Chikomba District are not in this predicament yet. Parents of children at these schools are coming up with ways to keep teachers in their jobs like providing groceries.

Effect on school children and the society

Apart from some children not attending school because of very poor backgrounds, more are staying at home because teachers are not turning up. The most affected are the exam classes who would normally be preparing for December exams. It's a crucial time for O'Level and A'Level students and yet they have been left to teach and guide themselves.

Already social problems have begun because schools are closed. Teenagers with nothing to do are turning into mischievous yobs and roaming around pointlessly. Unwanted pregnancies have gone on the rise in the absence of members of staff whose presence naturally instils discipline. In a year's time, these involuntary dropouts from school will become unemployed youths putting a strain on the local economy of the district.

The effects on Educated Horizon's work

Educated Horizon has experienced the following problems

We have not been able to effectively assess and monitor the academic progress of some of our scholarship beneficiaries. As explained above, some teachers are not coming to work leaving students without any form of guidance.
Our scholarship target plans have been delayed. Some students meant to receive help this term are not attending classes because schools are closed.
Our periodic guidance and counselling programmes have been very difficult to co-ordinate. With most schools closed, finding meeting places with students is not very easy. Undertaking these programmes outside 'the school' might be mistakenly taken for political meetings

Solutions

We intend to offer incentives to teachers of exam classes to come back to work. Suggested incentives will be in the form of monthly groceries. This scheme has been proven to work in private schools, which are still open. O'Level and A'level classes are very important as December exams are just around the corner and these students need all the help they can get.

Following the reopening of exam classes, our guidance and counselling programme will continue.

The report was written by Tongai Mushangwe, a Project Manager for Educated Horizon in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe