With a number of rural schools recording 0% pass rate for Grade 7 final exams, the future of Zimbabwe’s education does not look good if things don’t change. As usual citizens have largely blamed Harare for failing to improve the country’s education which was once the envy of the world.
But government elements among them Mr George Charamba aka Jamwanda have taken to social media to blame the opposition, rural teachers and trade unions for failing the country.
In a series of twits, Charamba blamed the opposition MDC, ARTUZ and PTUZ for the disaster:
One lie which errant unions in the education sector are selling us is a causal link between schools infrastructure and pupil performance. This is a blue lie. Some Rural schools with good infrastructure delivered very bad results, thanks to their desultory teachers. Others with modest infrastructures delivered some of the best results, thanks to their dedicated staff. Tell no lies ARTUZ, PTUZ. You are criminals!!!
Artuz is not a vulnerable community. It is an irresponsible pseudo-union behind which MDC organizes. Spare me that crap!!!!
The Zimsec Analysis for results of a year blighted by COVID-19 and MDC-inspired ARTUZ. Let’s Mask Up, show discipline and commitment so we don’t lose 2021 again!!!!
Mabasa eARTUZ aya!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/95jIlA0njS
— Jamwanda (@Jamwanda2) February 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/ARTUZ_teachers/status/1357970383853469700
But other people including ruling party allies like Professor Lovemore Madhuku have blamed President Mnangagwa’s government for the rot.
Madhuku described the pathetic pass-rate recorded in the 2020 Grade 7 examinations as a national disaster which calls for every citizen to play a part in restoring the once flourishing education sector.
Madhuku who is also a constitutional law expert said the 38 percent passrate recorded causes him pains as he himself is a beneficiary of a solid primary education which has now been eroded by governance.
“The less than 38% pass rate for the 2020 Grade 7 results causes me pain. It is a national disaster. I am what I am because of a solid primary school education. The results are a call to national duty: I will find a way of contributing to the improvement of our education system,” said Madhuku.
Further probed by Twitter users, Madhuku hit directly at the government saying it had failed the nation.
“It is a political problem: the Government has failed us here,” added the University of Zimbabwe law professor.
Madhuku said he will use his presence in the Political Actors Dialogue to push for a solution so as to stop the further damage to the country’s education system.
Where is this? pic.twitter.com/sgUkLKAyMf
— Mutumwa (@mmawere) February 7, 2021
Rewactions:
Gvt should electrify rural schools and put wifi plus computers .
All aspiring MPs should start mobilisation of funds for sch dvt, not just bee seen at e time of elections.Those donors shd start now, we are killing the future.
All sitting MPs in those areas shd be accountable.— dereck zharare (@deezharare) February 6, 2021
That won’t compensate for teacher indiscipline!!! I went to Chikuvire School where there was no power. I passed well enough to go to University. Chikuvire only got electrified – THROUGH MY EFFORTS BY THE WAY – after Independence!!! No easy excuses!!!
— Jamwanda (@Jamwanda2) February 6, 2021
Artuz is not a vulnerable community. It is an irresponsible pseudo-union behind which MDC organizes. Spare me that crap!!!!
— Jamwanda (@Jamwanda2) February 6, 2021
And you expect teachers and pupils to excel pic.twitter.com/3aMPWk48WM
— Vine Ziwane (@vine_ziwane) February 6, 2021
Unezvivindi typical of Zanu govt arogance and never taking responsibility. Always looking for scapegoats. The responsibilty of providing quality education for all seats with ED and his gang nobody else #ZanupfMustGo
— Dem Loot🇿🇼 (@Nyandoro03) February 6, 2021
Sometimes Artuz is referred as one man show union without membership by your government. Now it has influenced whole schools to produce poor results in Zanu-pf rural strongholds. How so?
— Nyathi Bongani (@BONGANINYATHIM) February 6, 2021
Schools only open for examinations but not for https://t.co/M4WNZAabGo mentioned a good example of Chikuvire School under Smith regime let's see how it performed now under ur Leadership https://t.co/nFGvduWlit seems there is always someone to blame other than ourselves.
— Caveman (@ugezuugezu) February 6, 2021
Artuz is a Union for teachers who have been subjected to abject poverty by @MthuliNcube surplus. Those teachers are the frontline workers in providing a pathway for the future generation coming from the valunarable community. You took out thier hope, failed in providing a service
— Tongerai Rugare (@TongeraiR) February 6, 2021