The Sunday News
Feature Vusumuzi Dube
“The advent of national Independence ushered in far reaching reforms in education and training based on the development needs and goals of the new dispensation which included democratisation and expansion of the provisions of education.” The above statement was part of the foreword of the famous report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training, popularly known as the Nziramasanga Commission.
Sixteen years after this final report was released, as a nation we continue to revisit key concepts and suggestions that were brought about by this commission.
As the country, on April 18, celebrates 35 years of self-rule this report remains one of the most revered blueprints ever produced regarding the country’s education sector.
When the colourful Zimbabwean flag finally replaced the Union Jack in 1980, this marked a period when the country was to transform from a white-dominated and influenced education sector, to one that had to take into consideration the black majority.
The year 1980 marked the first footsteps the education sector took; footsteps that were going to determine the future of the country knowing that any country’s education sector status is the sole determinant of the route it takes, whether towards development or underdevelopment.
Since 1980 the sector has experienced a number of changes from the creation of the country’s own examination body, Zimsec, the Nziramasanga inquiry and subsequent report, the establishment of state universities, the Presidential scholarships and the recent drive to reform the curriculum and include vocational training.
Even President Mugabe has led by example in terms of fostering the goal of education where a number of institutions have recognised him as the most educated President the world has ever seen.
The President holds seven academic degrees from South Africa’s Fort Hare University, University of South Africa (Unisa) and University of London. According to africacradle.com six of these university degrees were actually earned while he was doing distance learning and of the six, he got two of them while he was in prison. The seven hard-earned degrees cover a broad range of disciplines including education, economics, administration, and law.
Further, as the country embarked on the journey to revitalise the education sector for it to reflect the goals and attributes of the country, Zimbabwe also managed to make another major accomplishment by having a high literacy rate — in fact, the country is still ranked as having the highest literacy rate in Africa.
It would be grossly unfair for one to look at the country’s education sector and not mention the Nziramasanga Commission. This was a commission set up by President Mugabe on 2 January 1998 to look into and report on education and training in the country.
Among some of the recommendations submitted by the commission after completion of their consultations was the possible overhaul of the curriculum to also include vocational training so as to cater for children of all skills, noting that not all children were gifted academically.
“In order to increase access to post-basic education, we recommend four interlinked programmes; general (academic), commercial/business, technical, vocational, technical colleges and trade testing whose certificates carry equal weight.
“We recommend a nine-year compulsory basic education (junior school) cycle for all pupils in order to cultivate the habits, attitudes, interests, skills and entrepreneurial opportunities which would prepare them to be good citizens and provide them with a good foundation for training in occupations of their own choices at senior school and beyond,” read part of the recommendations set by the commission.
These recommendations are important to the extent that 16 years on it still makes up a key part of the reforms within the sector and promises to be the blueprint to consult for many years to come.
Some of the policies influenced by this commission include the establishment of Early Childhood Development (Grade Zero) and President Mugabe’s appointment of Cde Josiah Hungwe as the Minister of Psychomotor Activities in Education and Vocational Training.
The ministry’s mandate being to focus on the inclusion of vocational training in the education curriculum, as recommended by the Nziramasanga commission.
However, like any other sector during the country’s economic meltdown, the education sector was not spared as it also suffered a dark period, with the then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture alleging that the period saw 20 000 teachers leaving the service between 2007 and 2008 mainly because of hyperinflation that had rendered them destitute.
Those in the service were also in and out of the classroom protesting for better working conditions, which brought about what most parents would rather prefer to quickly forget — teacher incentives.
“Realising that Government was not in a position to pay teachers a living wage I turned to parents and allowed them to pay teachers incentives. They responded magnificently and in most schools improved teachers’ conditions dramatically. In Cabinet I argued for improved conditions for teachers,” Mr David Coltart was quoted as saying.
So as the country prepares to celebrate 35 years of independence Sunday News this week took the opportunity to interview a number of educationists and stakeholders to reflect on the journey the country has travelled in the education sector and what the future entails.
Former Zanu-PF Secretary for Education and educationist, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said it was important for the nation, especially the youth never to forget where the nation was coming from so that they have an idea and contribute to the future of the nation.He said education was an important sector in any country as an educated nation was a developed nation and further, a country with an educated populace had a bright future ahead of them.
Dr Ndlovu said there was a need for Zimbabweans never to forget the true heroes of the education sector, these being the teachers, who he said had sacrificed a lot to ensure an educated nation.
“Being a teacher is by all standards a noble profession these are the very who have seen to it that our children are educated. They have ensured that we continue getting doctors, lawyers and even politicians. As we celebrate 35 years of independence these are the very people that we cannot risk to neglect. We should be standing here and thanking them because they are our true heroes when it comes to the education sector.
“On the other hand, our youths and children should really understand the journey we have travelled to reach where we are today. Some of them just relax and declare that education is a right. Yes, it is a right, but let us not forget that there are people who lost their lives fighting for this right to be recognised, which is why I believe that the youth as we celebrate 35 years of self-rule must know and appreciate how we got this independence,” said Dr Ndlovu.
The Zanu-PF Politburo member said it was critical for a more serious attitude to be taken on the whole education sector so that the country maintains its status as the most literate state in Africa.
He said the fact that the country continued to establish State universities, with President Mugabe declaring that the goal was to have one in every province.
“President Mugabe has played his part in ensuring that we improve the state of our education, he and the First Lady have donated a lot of computers to a number of our schools. The President has also sent a number of our youths to universities in South Africa through the Presidential scholarship scheme. If more of our leaders could follow suit then we will be on a definite upward climb,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Independent analyst and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) lecturer Dr Lawton Hikwa said as the country celebrated 35 years of self-rule it was essential for all relevant stakeholders to work together if they were sincere towards the effective revival of the nation’s education sector.
“This is not about Government or the teachers; everyone must have a role to play in this regard — teachers, government, the parents and even the students themselves.
“The onus is one everyone to see to it that the sector is effectively revived and that the sector once again becomes the most recognised in the whole of Africa. The teaching fraternity also deserves to be given the necessary incentives for them to be in a position to perform effectively,” said Dr Hikwa.
He said there was high expectation that this year’s results will be much more improved as teachers did not go on a serious strike like in previous years, this meaning that service delivery had vastly improved.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu concurred with Dr Ndlovu, noting that with all the achievements the country has made to date there was more investment that was required in the sector.
“Yes we came a long way but I believe the sector still needs considerable investment, in infrastructure, resources and even improving the working conditions of the teacher. One thing that we should have in mind is that teachers are in the forefront of moulding tomorrow’s leaders,” said Mr Ndlovu.
So as we continue to reflect on this 35-year-old journey it is important to look at where we are coming from, where we are and where we are headed, not forgetting that always the past will shape the future.
The journey itself has not been a so rosy one, there have been challenges along the way but at the end of the day challenges are the ones that are meant to be shaped into successes.
As the country moved from war to peace one main thing that was emphasised by President Mugabe was the need for unity of purpose, the need for everyone to work together in ensuring that we foster the national agenda. He mainly noted that this would not be an easy task but would rather take time and resilience.
“Indeed, many countries in the international community are amazed at how we have so quickly and unexpectedly moved from war to peace. We have certainly won the goodwill of many countries and can confidently expect to benefit from the economic and technical aid they are able and willing to provide for us. May I assure you that my Government is determined to bring about meaningful change to the lives of the majority of the people in the country.
“But I must ask you to be patient and allow my Government time to organise programmes that will effectively yield that change. There are people without land who need land, people without jobs who need jobs, children without schools who need schools and patients without hospitals who need them. We are also fully aware of the need for increased wages in all sectors of employment. My Government will certainly do its best to meet the existing needs in these areas. But you have to assist us by being patient and peaceful,” said the President.
Although President Mugabe made this statement 35 years ago, it basically summarises the major tasks the Government has been focusing on — land, empowerment, education, economy and health — tasks that have had their own success stories, failures and challenges.
With the focus now being on the journey the nation has travelled in the education sector, it will be best to sum up with the words of late former South African President Nelson Mandela who famously said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
