Beverly Bizeki

A move to introduce a teacher incentive at the Catholic-run St Anthony High in Zaka by the School Development Committee (SDC) has sparked mixed feelings and divided parents with some in support of the idea while others feel they are forced to do government’s duty.
The teacher incentive was initially pegged at US$30 for form 1-4s and US$40 for A levels at an Annual General Meeting held recently but was later reviewed down to US$20 and US$30 respectively after heated debates on various WhatsApp platforms.
SDC Chairperson Joseph Gumbire confirmed the development and said though there were some disagreements over the issue, the initiative was completely parent driven and not influenced by the school administration saying it was meant to motivate teachers to improve their work.
“The teacher’s incentive is a parent driven initiative with nothing to do with the administration. The idea came after some parents approached teachers to help their children by way of extra lessons but that was hard for some parents to pay monthly fees for extra lessons. So what it meant was that those who fail to pay for extra lessons will disadvantage their children. This would also lead to the discrimination of some learners.
“It is against this background that parents came together with the idea of paying teachers an incentive as a token of appreciation and to motivate them in doing their work. There will be no extra hours added, teachers will just do their work and help every learner equally as need be,” said Gumbire.
Responding to why there were mixed feelings over the incentive issue, Gumbire said some parents complained over the amounts set at first and required a downward review while others were taking sides with the few members of staff who were benefitting from the extra lessons system.
“Only a few individuals were against the idea of incentives and at first parents wanted a downward review of the fees required which is why we changed it. We have a few who were against the idea and could have been benefiting from the old system,” said Gumbire.
However, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) Director of Communications Taungana Ndoro said they were against such arrangements saying it was not the duty of a parent to pay teachers but to support their children.
“We continue to warn parents against that. Their role is not to pay teachers but support their children, if they do so, they are creating an entitlement which when they fail to pay, the teachers will not deliver on their duties effectively,” said Ndoro.
Parents who were against the idea argued that the incentive does not guarantee good pass rates or that teachers would put in the extra effort while others said incentivizing teachers would mean they are taking government’s responsibility.
“This means that we are taking the employer’s responsibility of paying teachers, that being done how will you verify that the teachers are going an extra mile in teaching the learners, is there going to be an assessment and by who?
“I am sure we are all aware of the result-based reward that is being employed at our school by the shrewd leadership. And it has been so effective. Now we have started mending something that is not broken and setting a calamitous precedent that will impact on generations to come,” said one parent.
Another parent said they were not supposed to do a one size fits all and said extra lesson were better since they were optional.
“Who said teachers are not happy? Is it not expedient that we take a case by case approach and not one size fit all? What if I take that US$ 20 and take my child for extra lessons so that they can catch up where they are left behind. Is it not better than letting the school fees for Musiso be expensive because children are behind (on their lessons) Do we have evidence that if we pay teachers, the learners will improve,” said one grieved parent
Another parent who was for the incentive idea said it was noble as extra lessons meant the teachers were supposed to create extra time after learning hours but incentives will simply motivate them to do their work on the stipulated time.
“I think what needs to be done here are not extra lessons unless if we are saying the time stipulated is inadequate of which I do not think as parents here we can come up with a solution. Inadequate time for the syllabus can only be resolved through curriculum review. Incentivizing our teachers is good to motivate them so that they meet their objectives by attending lessons as expected, according to their timetables. I support the decision of giving them something as parents to motivate them,” said the parent.
Government however has been on record for banning extra lessons in schools but some teachers and schools have ignored the call.

Tinaani Nyabereka

Gokwe- Remembrance Funeral Services (FRS), a funeral insurance company which is headquartered in Gweru, has opened a branch in Gokwe which is set to give funeral services to the local community at an affordable cost.
Speaking at the opening of the branch recently, FRS Director, Annie Ndlovu said, the establishment of the Gokwe branch was a relief to the Gokwe community.
“We have come to Gokwe to open our fourth branch and it follows three we have in Gweru, Plumtree, Filabusi and we are going to open our Shurugwi branch soon.
“The idea we have is to give services to people and we are saying there is need for each and every one of us to get a decent burial so we want to move away from a where burial is expensive.
“We have come to understand that people sometimes fail to get money to acquire services when difficulty times come at their doorsteps. We are saying it matters for people to get relief in time and our services start from as little as US$3 dollars,” said Ndlovu
Gokwe Urban Residents Development Association Chairperson (GURDA), Mike Chagwinya Gwasha welcomed the establishment of Remembrance Funeral Service saying the development was important to the people of Gokwe.
“This is the development we want as a town, development which brings services to the people, I don’t think there is anyone who cannot afford to pay US$3.
“This means that vendors, bricklayers, kombi drivers, Persons with Disabilities (PWDS) and the elderly can now afford something to get a decent burial considering the economic hardships many are experiencing,” said Gwasha.
Chief Njelele born Moses Misheck Njelele welcomed the development and praised the funeral service saying their arrival had brought relief to the elderly and other low income earners.

…One-year-old Squatter celebrates on seeing donated food hampers

Admire Chatindo

One- year-old, Cephas Runesu who resides at a squatter camp at old Mucheke bus terminus could not hide his joy as he danced, jumped around clapping hands after seeing some food items that were donated by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches to the camp on Tuesday November 28.
The boy’s mother Princess Mutongi (32) said she has been staying at the squatter for 21 years and she gave birth to his son whilst in the squatter.
“I have been living in these squatter shacks for 21 years and it was in these shacks, put together with pieces of reject timber and black plastic to cover the wooden frames, I gave birth to Runesu and he is now one-year- five months now” she said.
Mutongi, a single mother, says she is battling to raise her child without food and says she felt as a social reject together with others she share the shacks with but felt loved seeing an organization like ZCC coming to their aid.
“We have a number of challenges here, we don’t have blankets, food, clothes and soap to wash napkins for Runesu it’s a bit challenging to cope up with this life.

As a squatter, sometimes we feel unwanted by the community and we have some with disabilities who cannot work for themselves so we are grateful for the gesture by ZCC and we call upon others to come to our aid.
Women Association for Council of Churches, a women’s division of ZCC) Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Chido Kuiparima said the donation came from 13 main line churches who contributed after identifying 20 needy people from the Mucheke camp.
“As women in the Zimbabwe Council of Churches we have managed to identify 20 people living in old Mucheke bus terminus shacks, with food challenges. We discovered that a number of people here have disabilities and cannot fend for themselves and decided to come to their aid,” said Kuiparima
Each beneficiary got 4litres cooking oil, 10 kg maize meal, salt, 4 green bars laundry soap, 2 litres Mazowe Orange Crush, 6kgs brown sugar, 6kgs white rice, 2kgs washing powder, 2kgs flour, 2kgs powdered milk and Vaseline.

Beverly Bizeki

Helen McGhie Government Primary School in Masvingo has taken a significant step in integrating technology into teaching, with members of the teaching staff now proud owners of laptops for classroom instruction. This move marks a departure from traditional chalkboards.
The teachers received their gadgets on November 17 during the school’s 2023 speech and prize-giving day ceremony, where outstanding learners and staff were recognized for their commendable efforts.
Sheila Deve, the school head, emphasized that the laptops are school property and are designated exclusively for teaching and learning purposes. The school has future plans to equip every classroom with interactive boards, with the laptops serving as the initial phase toward achieving that goal.
“The laptops that the teachers have received are school property and are not for personal use. They are intended for teaching and learning purposes from Early Childhood Development (ECD) up to Grade 7. Our goal for next year is to install interactive boards in every classroom. This will allow teachers to make use of the laptops, access the school’s Wi-Fi, and ensure that every learner can engage with ICT during school hours.
“We started procuring the laptops in May, stockpiling them for distribution at the end of the year. The interactive board project will commence next year, starting with Grade seven classes and gradually extending to the lower grades,” she explained.
Deve highlighted that the laptops were purchased using funds generated from the school’s various fundraising initiatives, including bus hiring.
“The laptops were acquired using proceeds from bus hiring and commissions earned by the school, not from school levies. The school administration is considerate of parents’ challenges and supports them through various fundraising projects,” Deve stated.
Non-teaching staff members were also recognized during the prize-giving day. They received satchels and monetary tokens of appreciation for their dedicated work throughout the year.
Helen McGhie boasts two state-of-the-art computer labs—one for infants and another for higher grades—fully equipped with ICT tools for educational purposes. The school has also acquired two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and a Toyota Hiace, with the assistance of government.
Helen McGie achieved impressive results, securing a clean 98.5 percent pass rate in the ZIMSEC 2022 examinations. The school now anticipates achieving a 100 percent pass rate this year.

Staff Reporter

MASVINGO – Junior Primary School, one of the most sought-after schools in the province and abroad held an early Christmas for its first Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners by holding its first graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 25 where 25 pioneers graduated to grade 1.
To match the school’s high standards, the colorful graduation was held at Urban Lifestyle Lodge which is the newest and best resort in town near Wimpy along Morgenster Mission Road.
The learners themselves provided entertainment in form of drama, and poems to the amusement of parents who graced the special event and showered their kids with gifts.
The school director Noah Marima thanked the parents and the school for organizing the event saying it was a milestone considering it was the first since the school opened doors in January this year.
“We are happy as a school that we have held our first graduation, this is a, milestone achievement for us and the learners. However, this is just the beginning, It is like a launch pad and as we go forward we will improve on all fronts as we strive to offer the best quality education for both primary and secondary pupils not only in Masvingo or Zimbabwe but even abroad,” said Marima.
He said the school was developing both academically and in infrastructure as it will start enrolling boarders next year with state-of-the-art boarding facilities already in place.
“We are going to start enrolling our boarders next year at Junior Primary School, we have completed the boarding facilities which we think are the best. We have also completed spacious swimming pools for both the secondary and primary schools,” said Marima.
The school boasts of having a Cambridge curriculum for both primary and secondary schools and has state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The school location also gives it an advantage and scenic view as it is located along the Harare – Masvingo highway.