The Education Sector–One Month After The GNU

Education for many had become a privilege as only a few parents could afford to enrol their children in private schools, which were charging fees as high as US$2000 per term. Those who had managed to write the Cambridge examinations had already received their results allowing them to go to the Advanced level, whilst the majority were still waiting for their Ordinary Level ZIMSEC results. Students in private schools had long since dumped the local examination council ZIMSEC; the council had lost its credibility due to paper leakages and delays in their setting and marking of examinations. This earned the Council its popular name ZIMSKETCH as it was sketching with people’s education. Parents were having sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do with their children as they witnessed their future -their education being destroyed. Those that could afford the exorbitantly high fees being charged by universities were already applying since they had their Cambridge results, whilst the poor could not apply because their ZIMSKETCH results were not yet out.

The situation was more or less the same at tertiary institutions, some colleges (e.g Midlands State University) that had failed to complete their 2008 Semesters, again failed to open, whilst the University of Zimbabwe opened and closed within a month as students failed to pay fees in foreign currency. The fees ranged from US$400 to $1200, prompting the Zimbabwe National Students Union to carry out a National Campaign against the Dollarization of Education, having noticed that the majority of the students were dropping out of school as it was now beyond their reach. This and more was the state of education as at the date of the commencement of the inclusive government.

Many people welcomed the new turn made by the parties to the power sharing agreement; unity was the best way to go in reviving education, bearing in mind the precipitated decay of the socio-economic conditions during the protracted talks. The GNU ushered in a new era and provided a platform for reconstruction of the education sector, although analysts remained sceptical of whether the long time rivals would be able to work together, or they would engage in the tug of war that ensued after appending signatures to the power sharing agreement. The Prime Minister did agree that it wasn’t the best solution but was workable, whilst Robert Mugabe promised to extend a hand of friendship.

It goes without say that students and parents were joyful when the PM in his speech after being sworn in highlighted that education needed urgent attention. What followed was the appointment of Ministers in charge of education, David Coltart was sworn in as the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, and Stan Mudenge became the Minister of Higher and tertiary education. Many teachers returned to work just after the formation of the GNU, banking on the PM’s assurance that they would be paid in foreign currency. Schools opened, however the dollarization of the economy remained inevitable, since the Zimbabwean dollar had fallen out of use. School fees continued to be paid in foreign currency to enable the schools to operate. Honourable David Coltart announced the new fees structure, which was still far beyond the reach of many, particularly civil servants who received an allowance of US$100.The fees were pegged at $100 for high density and rural schools, $150 for schools in low density areas. For tertiary institutions, Honourable Mudenge stated that the fees proposed by higher education institutions were too high and that government would review them. The fees were slashed to range from $US$200 to US$600 - still the majority could not afford. So the question on the lips of many is has the inclusive government managed to changed the state of the poor student from what it was before the formation of the government particularly when it comes to affordability of education? The fees are exorbitant most parents cannot afford to pay that much, but the truth is that parents have to meet the government half way as it has no money. When the PM and the Finance Minister went to South Africa to seek educational funding PM Tsvangirai said he was seeking emergency assistance to kick start essential public services, such as the re-opening of schools. Since the GNU had not yet received the money needed for immediate intervention, parents still bore the burden of paying the fees. Despite difficulties the GNU registered some commendable developments, ZIMSEC June Ordinary Level and Grade 7 results were released, and schools did re-open, teachers returned to school, with reports that some teachers who had left the teaching profession were returning.

Reviewing the budget, the new Finance Minister Tendai Biti in relation to education had this to say,” It remains critical that we address the challenges affecting the education sector, in particular improving the conditions of service for teachers. In addition the lack of effective learning and teaching in our schools and institutions of higher learning is undermining public confidence in our education system. The integrity of our public exams has also recently come under spotlight following the delays in their setting, conduct and marking. To address some of these challenges government has allowed schools and institutions to charge fees which will allow for the procurement of adequate teaching and learning materials and other requirements. The Ministry Of Education has already announced to the nation the new fees structure. T o afford equal opportunity to education by all, especially the vulnerable, programs are in place for them to access resources through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) and the National Education Training Fund including cadetship”

In a nutshell the Minister meant that, those who cannot afford to pay the fees they are to turn to the BEAM or to the Cadetship scheme. BEAM has been known in the past for not reaching its actual beneficiaries, but now therefore our hope would be that there be transparency and fairness in the criteria for choosing beneficiaries for the scheme. Furthermore, there is wide spread doubt that the USD$9.2m allocated in the budget for BEAM will be enough to cater for those in need of assistance considering that the socio-political situation in Zimbabwe had left many people jobless and poor.

The Cadetship scheme that the Minister rubber stamped is a burning issue amongst most students. Under this scheme government pays fees for the student and in turn the student will work for government, for the same number of years that he/she was assisted in the mean time the government will be in possession of the student’s certificates. And if u happen to go abroad the student has to pay half of his/her earning to the government until the loan is repaid. To students the conditions of the loan are, unreasonable, restrictive, oppressive and unjust because they limit their freedom of employment and career development. Therefore the situation at hand leaves many without any option but to apply for cadetship as the only way to further their studies.

The GNU is frantically trying to resuscitate the education sector without enough money. This has become a case of holding on -for things will not change overnight. People will have to remain patient while the government tries to change the way things are at the moment. At the moment the government needs all the support it can receive from the nation as it is in the transition period, a period of change.