School doors still closed in Zimbabwe
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Over three weeks have passed since Zimbabwe’s schools were scheduled to reopen after the Christmas break, raising fears that 2009 will be another lost year for education in Zimbabwe. While the government is saying the extra time is needed for teachers to mark last year’s exams, many teachers are refusing to return to work until the government agrees to pay them in foreign currency, as the Zimbabwean currency has become completely worthless. Teachers are demanding US$2,200 a month before they resume work, a demand that was rejected by the government after being put forward earlier this week by a coalition of NGOs and teachers unions.
From the Zimbabwe Standard:
Prospects that the situation would improve next term have been dampened by the prolonged delays in the formation of a new government, analysts said. “The outlook is gloomy,” said ZIMTA(Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association) acting chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, who confirmed the latest demands by teachers.
“If the political environment does not change in the few coming days, schools are unlikely to reopen next term.” Teacher organisations estimate that up to 30 000 teachers resigned from government to seek employment in neighbouring countries while others turned to the informal sector as the authorities continued to ignore pleas for better pay.
Meanwhile, private schools have been threatened with arrest by the government if they open their doors as scheduled on Tuesday.
The delay follows a tumultuous 2008 school year that was cut short in October, when schools had only been opened for a total of 23 uninterrupted days. This is compared to relatively high attendance rates only a year ago- a recent UNICEF report found that school attendance in Zimbabwe had dropped from 85% in 2007 to 20% by the third term of 2008. The drop was largely a result of the teacher shortages, which began last March after teachers started striking against poor pay and political intimidation around the elections. Attendance rates are also low because children are needed to help parents look for food or work amidst the ongoing economic turmoil.
After years of surviving despite a crumbling economy and autocratic rule, the most recent political upheaval may have struck a final blow to Zimbabwe’s education system, which was once the envy of its neighbors. Although high level talks are scheduled to resume again on Monday, analysts are doubtful that Mugabe will agree to the opposition’s demand that the government release all detained political prisoners.
-Nora Coghlan
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January 17, 2009 at 11:16 pm
park our troops in afica, get our boys & girls back home before next Xmas
January 19, 2009 at 9:42 am
This is the kind of cause I’m going to college for. I want help chilidren get an education and be able to succeed in life. It really gets to me when I read stories like this. I’m going to college to get my degree in International Relations and then i want to join and help organizations like this one. I want to be apart of making Zimbabwe better and all the other places like Zimbabwe!
January 19, 2009 at 3:49 pm
World Poverty is a Treat to our National Security. Right now ever bad thing in the world is blamed on the Policies of George W Bush, So our enemies will us this anger to reqruit the poor to attack us. Poverty is an issue that can bring down Governments. With governments need to deal with job losses, more more people will go hungry. We need to work with everyone, to solve this Crises, we cannot afford to have enemies.
January 19, 2009 at 6:34 pm
My daughter, Dr. Cara Wilson, an Infectious Diseases specialist with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, is on the advisory board of ZATA. (Zimbabwe AIDS Treatment Assistance Project). We appreciate that ONE is concerned with Zimbabwe. For more information about ZATA go towww.zataproject.org. This non-profit organization has as its mission to raise funds to purchase the most effective medical care at the lowest cost for Zimbabwean AIDS patients. The assistance provided by ZATA is coordinated with ongoing HIV treatment research programs at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School Clinical Research Center. Please share this information.
January 19, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I appreciate Bono speaking out on behalf of the worlds poor and sick. Don’t forget that the number one question asked Obama was “Will you legalize marijuana?”. Think about the benefits that medical cannabis can have on the millions of suffering Africans. I am very disturbed when I hear that UN Police are using international aid money to persecute cannabis growers in Africa and destroy such an important beneficial crop. Bono has enormous influence on UN leaders, and some of the world’s most powerful people. Please don’t think for a moment that by removing cannabis the UN is in any way helping the poor people of Africa or any other continent. This is a grave injustice, and I’m sure the sick and dying Africans effected by such laws would agree. The cannabis plant can help to provide food, clothing, shelter, safe medicine, and eco-friendly fuel. If the One Campaign really wants to help the poor, we should let them grow hemp, and if we must get involved, help them succeed in taking advantage of the many benefits of the hemp industry.
I hope Bono keeps up the good work, and helps to stop the bad work.
Thanx. www.nycamp.org
January 20, 2009 at 2:32 pm
As an ex-Rhodesian, who grew up in one of the most beautiful places on earth and had a very good education until we left in early 1980’s, it breaks my heart to see howZimbabwe has deteriorated into what it is today. That being said, we need to encourage the powerful and influencial people in the world that Zimbabwe can become a heaven on earth once more if only they would interfere on it’s behalf. To achieve this we need to invest in the country’s future – it’s children and to ensure they receive proper education
I thank Bono and all other celebrities involved in improving life in Africa. If it wasn’t for people such as Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, in charge of arranging the first concert over 20 years ago, Africa would be in an even worse state than today. I salute you all and pray that the leaders of the world join in to make the world, our small global village a better place in which to live.
Love to all,
Sandy
January 21, 2009 at 5:07 am
Sandy, investing in children and their education isn’t going to change the future of Zimbabwe. You have to change the government. Since that isn’t happening(at least to my knowledge), funnelling money at children will do nothing to change the future of a nation. The education of all results in an educated society true, but it comes to nothing when stifled by a corrupted government. Educating the masses for the future change of a nation who is brutally ruled is but a pipe dream.
January 21, 2009 at 1:37 pm
We can educate the children, feed the children, care for the children. If they grow up educated, well fed, and well sheltered but with no character, absolutely nothing will change when those children move into an already corrupt government. Character first!
January 22, 2009 at 1:27 am
Thanks Steve for your input.
I totally agree that the problems begin with the corrupted government. This is why the world needs to get involved – like it did in Romania at the time and in Iraq. Such leaders need to be overthrown and the society of that country helped. This is the only way to start the countries healing. To solidify the positive impact, the country’s education needs to be dealt with at the same time, to shorten the healing process.
January 23, 2009 at 1:46 am
Sandy,
Thanks for your reply. You mentioned nothing of dealing with the government.
What was stated was:
“…Zimbabwe can become a heaven on earth once more if only they would interfere on it’s behalf. To achieve this we need to invest in the country’s future – it’s children and to ensure they receive proper education.”
You simply stated this achievement rests with investment into children and their proper education. Education is valuable, no doubt. Which is better:
Did you know that people (for the most part) will find a way to make their lives better if you remove an overbearing government? Bad governments are hard on their people.
Which is better?
1)Funnel money at healthcare and education which will be stifled by a bad government?
or
2)Remove the bad government, help the people and watch them grow?
Please answer in all intellectual honesty.
Thanks.
January 24, 2009 at 1:58 am
It not very idealistic to say because some poorly informed folks base thier opinion in emotion and not fact, but we see that every time we turn power over from a “white racist regime” to a black or non-white system of government, that the zimbabwe thimg thing seems to happen. Kenya, The Congo, Eygpt, Northern and Southern Rhodisia, South Africa, Namibia and now the US, that anarchy and starvation and total instability soon follow.
Soon the only drinking water we will have in the US will be raw sewage from the broken sewage treatment plants like Africa. Thanks for helping, Bono! Casey Storms
January 24, 2009 at 5:36 am
Is Casey saying that America will soon be drinking raw sewage? As I recall most American drinking water comes from river systems – surely no one is going to pump sewage into rivers used for drinking water? Or is he saying that because America has a black President this will happen? if so I suggest he reads a little of Barack Obama’s life story and comes to realise that compared to the new President he has the intellect of an ant and retire to his anthill never to come out again. Can Mr Storms’ comment be obliterated please?