News out of Zimbabwe today reveals that the full impact of failed governance and gross economic mismanagement in Zimbabwe is still emerging. An article featured on the Times Online reported that due to a rapidly crumbling education system and continuing conflict between teaching unions and Robert Mugabe’s government, Zimbabwe has decided to cancel the 2008 academic year. In the midst of a prolonged teaching union strike, violence erupted around June’s presidential election leaving 6 teachers dead and thousands assaulted by Zanu (PF) militia.

The deteriorating state of education is the latest update to a long list of development gains that have been thwarted by years of failed leadership under Mugabe. This news is particularly disheartening given that Zimbabwe once boasted one of Africa’s highest literacy rates.

Excerpts below, full piece here

Now the coup de grace to the education system is being delivered by hyperinflation. Teachers had their salaries doubled last week to the equivalent of £5.70 a month — barely enough for bus fares and bread for four days.

The handful of private and state schools where parents can pay large supplements to teachers’ salaries are the only ones operating. In most schools where teachers do turn up pupil attendance is dwindling.

Providing school food at a time of comprehensive agricultural failure is a struggle. Mr Majongwe said hundreds of rural schools had sent their boarders home because they could no longer feed them.

Mr Musoni, from Sengwe, is pathetically thin. “There is no food,” he said. “People are starving.” Students at Harare Polytechnic rioted last week after they were served sadza, the stiff maize porridge that is the national staple, without salt or cabbage.

-Chris Scott