The Sunday News
Sithatshisiwe Vuma, Sunday News Reporter
MORE than 90 pupils, including those sitting for Ordinary Level public examinations this year at Zimele Secondary School in Silobela, Midlands have not attended lessons since schools reopened early this month after all the teachers reportedly absconded claiming that they finished the syllabus through online lessons.
Parents have now called the Government to intervene as pupils are not attending lessons. It is reported that the school only runs with three teachers and a headmaster. Only the headmaster is reportedly coming to work. The development comes at a time when parents had previously complained that the school was under-staffed. Silobela Ward 23 Councillor, Lovemore Ncube, whose jurisdiction covers the school, said parents were now resorting to transferring their children to other schools.
“The school has got three teachers who have not reported for work ever since the opening day. They have been doing this for three years now and they are destroying our children as you may find out that almost three quarters of the term they do not learn. We have been requesting for new teachers for three years now but the situation has not changed as they are still the same teachers who come to our community,” said Clr Ncube.
He said it was worrying that pupils who will sit for public examinations were not learning when the schooling was already behind because of prolonged shutdowns due to Covid-19 induced lockdowns.
Director of Information and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro said the ministry was aware of the problem and the teachers were going to face consequences of their actions.
“I am aware, we are working on it, it’s not only happening in Silobela but across the country. Any teacher who has not reported to work will be called to a disciplinary hearing which will lead to deducting their salaries,” said Mr Ndoro.
