Zimbabwe's Education Crisis Shows Small Signs of Hope
posted by: Natasha G. 67 days ago
Back in February, UNICEF Zimbabwe issued a press release to bring attention to Zimbabwe's education crisis. An astonishing 66 to 70 percent of schools were closed throughout the country, and schools that were open saw an attendance rate of only 33 percent.
UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative Roeland Monasch stressed the importance of the need to improve education, particularly in rural areas, where 94 percent of schools are closed. "Children in rural areas already live on the margins, many are orphaned, a huge number depend on food aid, they struggle on numerous fronts...Now these children are being denied the only basic right that can better their prospects. It is unacceptable."
Zimbabwe used to have one of the best school systems in Africa, but the country has been hit especially hard by the global financial crisis, making it difficult to fund schools. Last year inflation reached as high as 231,000,000 percent. In addition, cholera outbreaks, food shortages, violence and teacher strikes have hindered education. Many teachers left schools because they could not afford to live on the extremely low pay. One woman profiled by the BBC revealed that the cost of daily public transportation was double what she made in a day, causing her to actually lose money because of going to work.
Fortunately this week UNICEF Zimbabwe was able to report some good news. The organization, along with the government of Zimbabwe and international donors, have formed a $70 million partnership for education. $20 million will go towards the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) which assists orphans and other underprivileged children with school fees. The other $50 million will go towards school supplies and textbooks, especially crucial since in some schools only the teacher has a textbook.
Education minister David Coltart has promised teachers $100 per month, although teachers claim it is insufficient to pay for food, housing and other necessities. However, government ministers and other professions such as janitors make roughly the same amount so salary negotiation will most likely be a challenge.
As for the economy, it is slowly showing signs of progress. February 2009 saw a unified, more stable government, albeit a controversial one. Zimbabwe switched to using the U.S. dollar after the Zimbabwean dollar became virtually worthless. With some additional economic adjustments, food prices have dropped. While there are daunting challenges ahead for Zimbabwe, it is worth celebrating the fact that steps are being taken to ensure that every child has access to a quality education.
UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative Roeland Monasch stressed the importance of the need to improve education, particularly in rural areas, where 94 percent of schools are closed. "Children in rural areas already live on the margins, many are orphaned, a huge number depend on food aid, they struggle on numerous fronts...Now these children are being denied the only basic right that can better their prospects. It is unacceptable."
Zimbabwe used to have one of the best school systems in Africa, but the country has been hit especially hard by the global financial crisis, making it difficult to fund schools. Last year inflation reached as high as 231,000,000 percent. In addition, cholera outbreaks, food shortages, violence and teacher strikes have hindered education. Many teachers left schools because they could not afford to live on the extremely low pay. One woman profiled by the BBC revealed that the cost of daily public transportation was double what she made in a day, causing her to actually lose money because of going to work.
Fortunately this week UNICEF Zimbabwe was able to report some good news. The organization, along with the government of Zimbabwe and international donors, have formed a $70 million partnership for education. $20 million will go towards the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) which assists orphans and other underprivileged children with school fees. The other $50 million will go towards school supplies and textbooks, especially crucial since in some schools only the teacher has a textbook.
Education minister David Coltart has promised teachers $100 per month, although teachers claim it is insufficient to pay for food, housing and other necessities. However, government ministers and other professions such as janitors make roughly the same amount so salary negotiation will most likely be a challenge.
As for the economy, it is slowly showing signs of progress. February 2009 saw a unified, more stable government, albeit a controversial one. Zimbabwe switched to using the U.S. dollar after the Zimbabwean dollar became virtually worthless. With some additional economic adjustments, food prices have dropped. While there are daunting challenges ahead for Zimbabwe, it is worth celebrating the fact that steps are being taken to ensure that every child has access to a quality education.
Read more: children, zimbabwe, education, human rights
comments
Western media reported negative findings repeatedly and then once the opposition leader is in the government there are positive reports on Zimbabwe.
I can think of more than one explanation for this.
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The leadership is like a cancer which has permeated the whole body of Zimbabwe and slowly is destroying it.The primary cancer is called Mugabe.
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All this is very true, but nobody mentions the root cause of the trouble. After World War II the colonial powers came under intense pressure, particularly from the U.S.A., to leave Africa and to let the people govern themselves. Yet civilisation as we know it had been introduced in many areas sometimes less than two hundred years, was anything but firmly established. The great majority of the peoples were not yet ready for self-government. They fell prey to such hoodlums as Idi Armin, Robert Mugabe. Although not completely perfect the colonists should have been allowed to stay longer, to educate, to lead, to encourage. Much of Zimbabwe's trouble stems from the mass expulsion of European settlers with their expertise.
For some years I lived in the household of a former Tanganyika Chief-of-Police. We regularly had visits from former native officers asking for help in finding employment in Britain because they were unable to work under the corrupt new administration. "He is far too honest for his own good there now," was often my friend's comment.
It is alleged that the colonial powers exploited the natives. That is certainly partly true, but today Big Business has taken over. That must definitely be rectified. No stable government is possible when it is subject to such pressures.
It will be very many years, perhaps even centuries, before some African countries will stabilise. They will need all the help that other established nations can give.
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I agree with the observations of others, that the fault for this belongs squarely at the feet of Robert Mugabe. Only when he is dead will Zimbabwe be put right.
May God bless all there.
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Unfortunately, it will take Mugabe's death and a bloody revolution to even begin a return to a semblance of sanity in Zimbabwe.
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Only when Mugabe is gone will things improve in Zimbabwe.
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The education system started going down the tubes in 1982, at least in government-run schools. Private ones maintained higher standards. Not surprising though. It's what Zimbabweans voted for in 1985, 1990 and 1995, so they only have themselves to blame for the current mess, not just in education, but in every aspect of life. It will take decades to fix and isn't something I'll see come right in my lifetime, even if I bat out a century and assumes good governance along the way. Not much chance of that in Africa. Well done Zimbabwe! You managed to create a begging bowl out of a bread basket! If only you'd kept a viable opposition in place from the start, this might never have happened. Watch... South Africa's next! Guaranteed!
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Things will never get better with Mugabe in power. This is yet another ongoing human tragedy. I nonetheless applaud the efforts of UNICEF and the UN. The day we stop tilting at windmills, all is surely lost.
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Pray that things will improve soon !!!
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Whilst corruption and intimidation continue, and what very little of the farming industry is still threatened by seizure by those incapable or unwilling even to harvest planted crops, never mind plant fresh crops there remains little hope for this once successful and self-sufficient country. Trouble is, there's no oil!!
UNICEF, UN and a host of other well-intentioned agencies may protest as much as they like but without an enforceable system of law and order under which all citizens are equal, without security of tenure and full parliamentary accountability the problems will remain. Only within a stable, accountable regime can education flourish and bring the long term results and awareness necessary to overturn years of misrule.
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