…the plight of ZIMSEC candidates
Rutendo Chirume/Emmanuel Chitsika
The 12-day job action declared by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) beginning on November 15 up until 27, as a way of voicing their concern to the ever-deteriorating living and working conditions of the once noble profession has further cast a grey shadow of despair to exam classes.
The timing of the strike is likely to leave many concerned parents, learners and education stakeholders worried about the future of the sector.
Far-reaching consequences are likely to accrue because of that job action, as has been the case in previous scenarios where government had lived on threats to rope in college-dropouts instead of addressing the issue of teachers’ welfare.
A number of factors come to play contributing to the build-up leading to the writing of the public examinations.
The re-introduction of Continuous Assessment of Learning Activities (CALA) against the ill-prepared state of affairs in most schools, is one cause for concern.
Government’s decision to reintroduce CALA tasks at the backdrop of Covid-19 against the will of various stakeholders involved in the implementation, left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the likely success of the concept.
With most parents suffering at the hands of an already ailing economy, provision of enough resources required in carrying out of such learning tasks coupled with a demotivated workforce will do no good to the learner who is sweating to cover lost ground as a result Covid-19 induced lockdowns.
Ordinary Level examinations are set to begin in less than a week from now and the big question at every stakeholder in education sector’s doorstep is who is going to be in charge of handling the public examinations if the teachers remain in the terraces.
ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure confirmed that his membership has hit the ground running by not reporting for duty as a way of forcing their employer to address their grievances while claiming that attendance of learners has dropped from 92 percent to 57.
Masaraure said if the government does not play the ball correctly, the future of learners could be in jeopardy as the union’s members are defiant vowing not to abandon the strike despite receiving numerous threats from unknown contacts.
“The public exams are just around the corner. If government does not play the ball correctly, the future of our learners is in jeopardy. As it is, some of our members are threatened but that will not intimidate us. On the issue of invigilation allowances the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said we should contact them but they have not responded to us yet,” said Masaraure.
With public exams fast approaching teachers need to wrap up revision and putting final touches before learners can sit for the examinations.
According to reports, the 12 days of action is receiving support and endorsement with evidence of voices from different organizations.
In article published by TellZim News on October 10 this year, Masaraure described CALAs as ‘the worst nightmare an ordinary learner would endure’ after government insisted on the implementation of the assessment tool contributing 30 percent towards the final mark of any given learner.
“The CALA initiative is the worst nightmare being endured by rural learners and teachers. Rural schools, already affected by Covid-19 pandemic and accessibility to resources is very difficult learners in rural areas.
“There is poor network system in rural areas that teachers are not able to research on the topics at hand. Some children live with grandparents who are not even able to read and write which would lead to poor results for this year that will not be a true reflection of a learner’s exit profile, but a big lie to mask the crisis in the education sector,”
A learner, (identity protected as they are a minor) expressed fear through a tweet on microblogging site Twitter where she raised her concerns over the situation saying on top of being affected by lockdown, teachers’ withdrawal from work will further the damage.
“Education is my birth right but I feel like it is being taken away from me. Half of the term was affected by Covid-19 and I have CALAs to concentrate on which consumes more of my study time. Now teachers are on strike at a time that we need them most. If government fails to comply, how are we going to sit for exams without invigilators?” read the tweet.
Progressive Teachers Union in Zimbabwe Secretary General Raymond Majongwe wrote a letter dated November 16 inviting MoPSE to a discussion of several issues among them working conditions and remuneration of teachers, ZIMSEC and associated duties, teachers and learners with disabilities, application of the law, circulars and related statutory instruments.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou promised that a showdown is looming between government and teachers.
“We certainly may be heading for a showdown. We have also written to the Minister requesting an urgent meeting to iron out challenges. If all our efforts fail, the only alternative left is showdown,” said Zhou.
Contacted for comment Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe referred the reporter to MoPSE permanent secretary Tamsanga Thabela.
However, Thabela could not be reached as her mobile was unreachable.
ZIMSEC Public Relations Officer Nicky Dlamini was reported to be engaged in meetings.
The Covid-19 pandemic disturbed the flow of the school calendar thereby relegating learners to their homes with minds lying idle for months.
The writing classes are among the biggest victims of the pandemic as the first lockdown of 2020 started at a time when they were just beginning their courses that is lower six for now Upper six and form 3 for now form 4s.
This crop of learners got less than a quarter of the time they were supposed to have devoted to learning as a result but still they are going to be examined for the fulfillment and completion of the course.
