THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sports, Arts and Culture this week conducted nation-wide public hearings on the challenges in primary and secondary education.
In Jerera, at St Anthony High School, the public hearing was well attended by over 300 school heads, teachers, school development committee members, pupils and parents.
The objectives of the hearing included; appreciating the challenges being faced in the education sector, finding out the expectations, views and recommendations of the stakeholders and the public in general regarding the curriculum review, particularly on sexual reproductive health education and e-learning.
The hearing also included appreciation of the impact of teachers’ incentives on pupils, teachers and parents in the provision of quality education.
The issues of condoms and mobile phones in schools took centre stage.
Most parents were agitated, saying the issue of condoms in schools was not even an agenda up for discussion.
There was consensus.
No condoms in schools, full stop.
“What message are you sending if you give those children condoms?” asked Tariro Matiki, an SDA member.
“I struggle to pay school fees for what, for someone who is going to school to engage in sex. No ways!
“Teachers must do their job to guide these children and you as the lawmakers we expect you to make policies that produce a better generation for tomorrow (sic).”
One teacher from Murere Secondary School blamed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in their areas for being the main actors in advocating condoms in schools and abolishment of corporal punishment.
“It seems the root of this problem are NGOs operating in the country,” she said.
“Most of them have misplaced agendas, and I blame Government for allowing them to come into our schools teaching pupils about condoms.
“These NGOs are teaching pupils wrong things; imagine calling for circumcision for a Grade 3 pupil.”
As the public hearing gathered momentum, teachers and parents were in consensus that lack of discipline in schoolchildren was also a root problem.
They bemoaned an outright ban on corporal punishment, saying it was unsuitable for the Zimbabwean context and not in sync with our culture and values.
They said it (the cane) should be re-introduced to restore order in the schools and instill discipline among the pupils.
“We want corporal punishment to be re-introduced because pupils can be uncontrollable and it is only corporal punishment that can tame and groom them into responsible young people,” said one parent.
“If you just touch a pupil, they run on to report you to the nearest police station (sic).
“We all went through the same system and we never complained.
“It actually helped many people some whom have become successful and responsible citizens today.
“These are our future leaders and we don’t want them to be spoiled.
“These children now have too many rights and they (rights) are destroying them.”
The advent of the smart phone in recent years has accelerated the technological pace, making it possible for almost everyone to access internet services.
However, there were mixed reactions on the use of cellphones in schools, with most parents arguing that mobile phones could be so distractive as to interfere with a child’s learning.
“If you look even at adults, sometimes they spend so much time on the phone at the expense of doing other things.” said Grace Zvomuya.
One St Anthony pupil, Ashton Siyamwa said cellphones were unnecessary at school, but called for easy access to the internet hence laptops and tablets could be used in place of cellular phones.
“Most books in school libraries are now outdated, hence we need the internet to download e-books,” he said.
Mhetu Pambeni, a primary school head said most schools in the rural areas do not have electricity hence would be left behind in implementing the new curriculum that includes e-learning.
“As you roll out the new curriculum, there is need to address the issue of electricity first in the rural areas,” she said.
“We do not want to be left behind in such programmes.”
Other issues discussed at the hearing included the education curriculum review, examination leaks and schools infrastructure development.
Teachers lamented the serious shortage of infrastructure, especially in government schools, saying it was not in tandem with the increasing numbers of pupils.
They said the teacher-pupil ratios were compromising the performance of both the teachers and pupils, thereby negatively affecting their results in academic and non-academic fields.
Teachers also condemned the abrupt changes that were being introduced by Government, saying they wanted to be consulted first before any changes or policies are implemented.
The chairperson of the committee, Never Khanye, who is also the Matobo North National Assembly member, said the committee is seeking solutions to challenges affecting the primary and secondary education sector in the country.
“I am impressed with the response from members of the public and happy that they are giving us suggestions on how to tackle some of the challenges in the education system,” he said.
“After the hearings, we will compile our findings and invite other line ministries for comments before we table them to the House for deliberation.”