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Lupane’s Failing Education Shatters Dreams

Lack of basic infrastructure and conducive learning environment has continued to shatter children's dreams. Image by VicFalls Live


BY CALVIN MANIKA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | APR 8, 2022

Education infrastructure is an important factor in determining the quality of learning and graduates being churned out, however, most schools in the district lack basic infrastructure and a conducive learning environment.


LUPANE (The Citizen Bulletin) — Busani Ncube’s dream is to become a nurse.
 
But across the field, his mother Anna Ncube (39) feels sorry for him.
 
“Seeing these boys is like looking at the shattered big dreams. I think our education system is failing us,” Ncube says.

“The biggest issues are distance and teachers. Our children walk almost 7 kilometres every day to school only to find a demoralised teacher if not inexperienced.”
 
Lupane primary schools have been recording poor pass rates in Grade 7 and ordinary level final examinations over the years.


According to the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (Zimsec), Matabeleland North 2020’s Grade 7 pass rate fell to 37.11 percent from 46.9% recorded in 2019.


At least 85 primary schools have recorded zero pass rates. In 2021, the province had the worst Grade 7 pass rate nationally.
 
Speaking to The Citizen Bulletin, Former Lupane Senator Dalumuzi Khumalo says there are a number of factors contributing to the poor pass rates.

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the poor pass rates in the district. Image by Shutterstock


“During the past two years there was no schooling to talk about due to COVID-19. At the same time, the majority of the teachers do not understand or speak the local language to make learning easy,” Khumalo says.
 
Dr Christopher Ndlovu, a lecturer at Lupane State University (LSU) in a research project with the University of the Free State in South Africa and the Baobab, says the majority of learners in Lupane cannot read.


“Most of the learners showed that they read below their standard and most of the Grade 7 learners in the district cannot read or face difficulties in reading. This is the major cause of poor results.”
Reads the research report in part


The COVID-19 pandemic also exposed the lack of enabling learning infrastructure in the district as learners were missing out on e-learning.


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Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) spokesperson Taungana Ndoro could not be reached for comment. But he was quoted in the press saying the ministry is satisfied with Lupane’s 2021 Grade 7 results.
 
“We are encouraged by the increased pass rate in Matabeleland North province,” a man who identified himself as Ndoro was quoted saying.
 
Former Senator Khumalo says the under payment of teachers is also contributing to the poor pass rate in the district.
 
“The remuneration of teachers leaves a lot to be desired. Teachers need to be paid a decent salary for them to be effective in the classroom,” Khumalo says.


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