200 teachers train to teach local languages

Government has identified 200 teachers that have been sent to a local university to learn local languages to be examined in schools soon, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora has said.

He said this was in line with the provisions of the new Constitution that recognised 16 national languages.

Minister Dokora said upon completion of the courses, the teachers would be deployed to Primary and Secondary Schools.

"As we speak we have at least 200 teachers who are being taught at Great Zimbabwe University to teach languages in different schools," he said.

This comes after the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) recognised 16 languages as official instead of only recognising Shona, English and Ndebele.

Languages such as Tonga received official language status in the country's Constitution last year alongside Chewa, Chibarwe, Shangani, Ndau, Khoisan, Tswana, Venda, sign language, Sotho, Nambya and Xhosa.

Meanwhile, Minister Dokora said parents who had failed to get Form One places for their children should approach the District Education Offices. He said it had come to his attention that parents were battling to get Form One places. Minister Dokora's announcement comes two weeks before the re-opening of schools for 2015 first term enrolments.

"It has come to my attention that there are a number of parents who are still looking for Form One places for their children. Such parents are requested to approach their District Education Offices for assistance. The District Education Office will indicate boarding or day school places that are still available where applicable," he said.