'Stop frustrating teachers'

FORMER MDC-T Bulilima West MP, Norman Mpofu has said the government must stop frustrating teachers considering the fact that the education sector is already fractured after the 2007-2008 economic decline.

He said many educators skipped borders to look for greener pastures due to the crisis in the sector.

Mpofu made the remarks following government's move to audit the educators since the schools opened.

The Civil Service Commission asked all the teachers to be at their work station on opening day for a second-round-head count of the civil servants.

Over 3000 civil servants in July had their salaries ceased after they were not found at their work stations when government officials conducted head count of civil servants in an effort to weed out ghost workers.

Mpofu said he has no qualms with the project of hunting for ghost workers and cleansing the civil service of lazy incompetent and corrupt elements.

He said the government must restrain from disturbilising the sector. Mpofu said. "The sector has already lost thousands of teachers who left the country to seek for greener pastures elsewhere. This has resulted to some schools being manned by unqualified personnel, compromising education standards. To further remove teachers will plunge schools into a crisis."

Mpofu said this will live few remaining teachers being overwhelmed by huge teaching loads.

He said the children are no longer only facing a hostile environment at school, but at home as well.

He said it appears the education is now for the elite.

"Children from poor families will be hit hard by the economic crisis, but those with rich parents are cushioned in cost private schools supported by private lessons.  Gone are the days when education was a means to escape vicious circle of poverty," he said.

Some teachers  said they are living in fear of losing their jobs any time because of the prevailing conditions set by government.

"The education system is going down," a teacher based in Bulawayo who asked not to be named for fear of retribution said. "You cannot expect teachers to perform at their best when they are being threatened. Some have been hospitalised because of hyper-tension resulting from this frustration.  "There was time when teachers were promised free education for their children to no avail. Its sad that as schools have opened some of us had salaries ceased and have no money to pay children's fees."

He said it is sad that instead of the ministry asking teacher how the education system could be uplifted, they bombard them with a lot of paper work which steals their class room time.

"Zimbabwe used to be the envy of many nations during the time when Fay Chung was the Education minister. I am sure Fay Chung is shaking her head with tears when looking at the state of affairs right now," he said.

A Gwanda School teacher expressed fears over uncertainty of many teachers remaining in the employ.

"We are now working in an environment full of fear because any time one can be eliminated from the system. At month ends we are not quite sure if our salaries are there. Someone working under fear due to threats cannot perform well," he said.

Blessed Sibanda of Bulawayo said the education system was a  sad story as children's future is now being thwarted by the same government which must be promoting them. He said teachers will never perform well under such circumstances