GOVERNMENT is concerned about the high rate of teacher
absenteeism in schools as this is contributing to poor pass rates and negating
the country’s vision to uplift every citizen through education.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli
Ncube, speaking at the 2019 pre-budget seminar here, said he had been studying
the trend for some time.
He said he had noted that most teachers are not in school
due to among other reasons, poor remuneration, poor working conditions and
infrastructure.
Similarly, Government is concerned about some schools that
withhold results of pupils who owe them school fees as it disadvantages
learners from advancing with their education.
“There is an issue that I have been studying for a long
time, the issue of teacher absenteeism. It is not easy to fix but we have to
deal with it either through incentives or improving conditions of service and
building of schools,” said Prof Ncube.
He implored parents
to be involved in school activities.
“For example, Matabeleland South has 250 schools where
pupils are not passing their Ordinary Levels. There are many such schools
countrywide. Whenever parents are not involved in the activities of the school,
those schools perform worse,” he said.
In some provinces such as Matabeleland South, teachers
cross the border to neighbouring countries to do menial jobs to supplement low
salaries.
Prof Ncube said the 2020 budget will surely allocate
resources towards infrastructure and schools’ development to improve working
conditions for various sectors in the public service including education.
School drop-outs are also prevalent, said Primary and
Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo also speaking at the same
occasion.
He said this, compounded by a tendency by schools to
withhold results of learners who owe fees negates Government efforts towards
achieving universal education.
“There is a high prevalence of school drop-outs due to
pregnancy where only 67 percent of Form Four girls proceed with their education
while others drop out due to pregnancy. We are hoping that formalising the
Children’s Act, whose draft has been discussed by taskforce and awaits passing
to Parliament, will help address these issues.
“I have also noted your concerns about schools that are
withholding results for non payment of fees. Withholding results is illegal
because the fees contract is between the school and parent and not the pupil.
If a school withholds results bring this to the attention of the Ministry as
that is an act of misconduct and disciplinary action will be taken,” said Dep
Minister Moyo. Chronicle
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