BULAWAYO residents yesterday strongly rejected proposals in
the Education Amendment Bill to allow pregnant pupils to continue with their
studies as well as the abolishment of corporal punishment.
Residents and other stakeholders also demanded that the
proposed law ensures that local teacher training colleges prioritise students
from Matabeleland region to ensure that local schools have more Ndebele
teachers.
Contributors were in support of free education which is
contained in the Bill.
Speaking during public hearings on the Education Amendment
Bill at Mabutweni Hall various
stakeholders spoke with one voice on the issue of corporal punishment and the
proposed inclusion of pregnant learners in schools.
Ms Lina Mkoma from Mabutweni said pregnant learners must
not be allowed in schools as their presence would affect other learners.
“Pregnant girls should not be allowed in schools. Imagine
in the initial stages of pregnancy when they are vomiting and all sorts of
things, how that child will cope in class. They will definitely be a laughing
stock from their peers and this might result in miscarriages,” said Ms Mkoma.
“Abanye bayabe sebelala because of the pregnant class
mates. It’s not right. If one decides that they want to be a mother they must
stay at home.”
A lady who identified herself as Ms Ndebele supported Ms
Mkoma. She also said corporal punishment must not be abolished.
“Corporal punishment is necessary because as it is we are
struggling to deal with these youngsters. Imagine when they know that teachers
cannot do anything to them, it will be chaotic. Teachers must be allowed to
spank them but not use fists. It must be reasonable,” said Ms Ndebele.
The issue of corporal punishment was the most dominant with
contributors in agreement that teachers should be allowed to punish the
students but the punishment must be ‘reasonable’.
Another resident Mr Xolani Ndlovu said Government should
provide free education. “From ECD to A level, education must be state funded.
As it is, it’s parents who are constructing schools, they are forced to buy
buses, construct perimeter walls and new blocks for ECDs which must be done by
Government on top of the fees they would have paid,” he said.
Mr Bhekisisa Ngwenya also echoed the same sentiment on free
education. He added that more schools should be built in Matabeleland region as
it is in other provinces.
Mr Ngwenya said some children are forced to walk about 18
kilometres to school which he said would result in poor performance from the
learners.
Mrs Nokuthaba Ndlovu from Makokoba said teacher training
colleges such as the United College of Education and Hillside Teachers’ College
should prioritise enrolling students from Matabeleland.
“We have a lot of teachers who are coming from other
regions being enrolled at the colleges when our children here are being left
out. This has resulted in non-Ndebele teachers dominating in our schools and
this is killing our language, that issue must be resolved,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
Other issues raised include that of inclusivity for
disabled learners, learners being excluded from class due to non-payment of
fees, teaching of sign language and lack of birth certificates for orphans.
Most participants from Mabutweni and Iminyela who are
elderly said their grandchildren were failing to continue with education as
they do not have birth certificates and as guardians they were failing to get
them.
Cabinet approved the Education Amendment Bill in February
and it was gazetted in the same month.
The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the right to a
basic State-funded education, including adult basic education, the right to
equality and non-discrimination and the right to language and culture.
The Bill is also expected to abolish corporal punishment.
It also ensures that children that are also within a particular zone are not
disadvantaged by those that come from other areas as they must be given
priority.
It will also deal with the area of teaching of local
languages and address the issue of teaching of children with disabilities
including facilities to be availed to them.
It also states that for the purposes of fees approval, the
Permanent Secretary shall require every registered school to submit a plan highlighting
how the school shall advance the rights of pupils with disabilities.
The Education Act will also ensure non-exclusion of pupils
from school for non-payment of school fees or on the basis of pregnancy.
The committee on Primary and Secondary Education chaired by
Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga proceeds to Matabeleland North at Lupane Town Hall
today before wrapping up in Gweru on April 17 at the Gweru Civic Centre.
Chronicle
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