News / Education
Gwanda 0% pass-rate Minister steps in
24 Jan 2014 at 05:16hrs | Views
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland South, Abednico Ncube has said he would approach the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to get an explanation on the dismal performance of six Gwanda schools that posted zero percent passes in last year's Grade Seven examinations.
"As of now I cannot say much about the issue but I will approach the provincial education officer concerning that," he said.
He said government was interested in finding out the challenges facing the education sector and how teachers could be assisted to improve pupils' pass rate.
Ncube, who is also Gwanda South MP, expressed concern over low pass rates in schools. His sentiments follow revelations that six primary schools namely Glass Block 2, Gobadema, Matshetsheni, Tshongwe, Ngoma and Zelezele in Gwanda District failed to record a single pass.
Gwanda North MP Madodana Sibanda said teachers were faced with many challenges such as accommodation and water problems, which needed to be addressed as a way of motivating them.
"We are really concerned about the welfare of our teachers. Some spend most of the time in search of water and end up dedicating less time to their core business of teaching. We really need to improve their living conditions," he said.
Sibanda said he was assisting in the construction of teachers' cottages at Sigodo Primary School. Meanwhile, Chief Masuku of Mzimuni said the zero percent pass rates recorded by the two schools in his area- Glass Block 2 and Matshetsheni was a cause for concern.
"We should not just point fingers at each other but work together to find solutions to the problem," he said.
Chief Masuku attributed the zero percent pass rates to a lack of interest by some parents in providing adequate support to their children, lack of motivation of teachers, incompetent teachers or failure by pupils to value education.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is expected to summon school authorities of the six schools to discuss the problem.
"As of now I cannot say much about the issue but I will approach the provincial education officer concerning that," he said.
He said government was interested in finding out the challenges facing the education sector and how teachers could be assisted to improve pupils' pass rate.
Ncube, who is also Gwanda South MP, expressed concern over low pass rates in schools. His sentiments follow revelations that six primary schools namely Glass Block 2, Gobadema, Matshetsheni, Tshongwe, Ngoma and Zelezele in Gwanda District failed to record a single pass.
Gwanda North MP Madodana Sibanda said teachers were faced with many challenges such as accommodation and water problems, which needed to be addressed as a way of motivating them.
Sibanda said he was assisting in the construction of teachers' cottages at Sigodo Primary School. Meanwhile, Chief Masuku of Mzimuni said the zero percent pass rates recorded by the two schools in his area- Glass Block 2 and Matshetsheni was a cause for concern.
"We should not just point fingers at each other but work together to find solutions to the problem," he said.
Chief Masuku attributed the zero percent pass rates to a lack of interest by some parents in providing adequate support to their children, lack of motivation of teachers, incompetent teachers or failure by pupils to value education.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is expected to summon school authorities of the six schools to discuss the problem.
Source - Chronicle
