News / Local
Stop privatizing education - Zimta tells Government
08 Apr 2015 at 01:13hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA) has added its voice in castigating Government on planned introduction of examination fees at grade seven level.
Zimta said Government risk stifling access to basic education for the majority of struggling Zimbabweans.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora last week announced that the government was planning to introduce Grade 7 examination fees and hiked ‘O' Level fees from $13 to $15.
Dokora said the increase in examination fees was meant to curb leakage of examination papers.
In a statement, the teacher union said "Education is a Basic Public Good that Must not be made into a commodity through Introduction of exorbitant Exam Fees, in Public Schools.
"The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZIMTA) castigates the recent move by government to increase examination fees and its desire to increase the same for grade seven exams as irresponsible and lacking in foresight.
"As a union, we are campaigning for an access to quality public education for all, we view the increase in examination fees as an attempt to privatize education for Zimbabweans, and as an attempt to turn a right to education into a privilege for a few rich Zimbabweans,".
ZIMTA said Zimbabweans that are living below the poverty datum line and scores of parents are struggling to meet the current basic needs.
"We are worried as to who is advising Cabinet to make such decisions on behalf of the struggling population; clearly we want to understand what has led to such an unpopular move which seeks to discriminate against the poor in terms of accessing public education, which is also their Constitutional Right,".
Most children of top government official are being educated out of the country with a majority on scholarships.
Zimta said Government risk stifling access to basic education for the majority of struggling Zimbabweans.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora last week announced that the government was planning to introduce Grade 7 examination fees and hiked ‘O' Level fees from $13 to $15.
Dokora said the increase in examination fees was meant to curb leakage of examination papers.
In a statement, the teacher union said "Education is a Basic Public Good that Must not be made into a commodity through Introduction of exorbitant Exam Fees, in Public Schools.
"As a union, we are campaigning for an access to quality public education for all, we view the increase in examination fees as an attempt to privatize education for Zimbabweans, and as an attempt to turn a right to education into a privilege for a few rich Zimbabweans,".
ZIMTA said Zimbabweans that are living below the poverty datum line and scores of parents are struggling to meet the current basic needs.
"We are worried as to who is advising Cabinet to make such decisions on behalf of the struggling population; clearly we want to understand what has led to such an unpopular move which seeks to discriminate against the poor in terms of accessing public education, which is also their Constitutional Right,".
Most children of top government official are being educated out of the country with a majority on scholarships.
Source - Byo24News
