MPs Slam Govt As Kids Endure School In Chicken Coops And Barns
Children in some parts of Zimbabwe are learning in fowl runs and abandoned tobacco barns, a parliamentary committee has revealed in a scathing report that squarely places the blame on government authorities. Lawmakers have called the situation a “national shame”, highlighting that the most vulnerable – Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners aged between 4 and 6 years old – are bearing the brunt.
“The Joint Committee was informed that at Herbert Chitepo Primary School in Zvimba District, which has an enrolment of over 1,000 pupils, abandoned tobacco grading sheds are being used as classrooms,” reads part of the joint report by the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development.
Lessons in a fowl run
Zimlive reports that the MPs’ report, tabled recently in Parliament, painted a grim picture of how learners in rural areas are enduring poor learning conditions.
“ECD classes at Tore Primary School are conducted in a fowl run, while some classes at Chimedza Primary School are held in open spaces,”
the committee said.
ECD learners, typically between the ages of 4 and 6, are in their formative years and require nurturing environments to thrive. Instead, they are being taught in structures meant for animals.
“This is a national shame. We cannot expect our children to thrive in environments not even fit for animals,”
said one MP during debate in Parliament.
Overcrowded and overburdened
The report also found severe overcrowding in many schools, with some surpassing the recommended teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40.
“The Joint Committee found that many schools are exceeding the standard teacher-pupil ratio… This overburdening of teachers hinders their ability to provide individual attention to students, further negatively impacting learning outcomes,”
the report warned.
In urban schools, some have introduced hot-sitting, where learners rotate in morning and afternoon shifts. However, MPs warned this arrangement excludes many learners with disabilities.
“Hot-sitting marginalises disabled children who need more time and consistent routines,”
one committee member said.
Walking 16km to school
The joint committee said rural children were hardest hit, with some walking more than 13km one way to reach school.
“At Dabengwa Primary School in Bubi, for example, some pupils travel as far as 16 kilometres one way,”
the report said.
This translates to a 32km round trip daily, a distance equivalent to walking from Harare CBD to Norton. MPs noted that such journeys were leaving learners too tired to concentrate in class.
“These long distances lead to learner fatigue, which affects concentration and academic performance,”
said the committee.
Parents and teachers interviewed also said the energy spent walking reduced study time and caused some children to miss school altogether.
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