News / Local
Zapu blasts govt over plans to close 40 Matabeleland South Schools
26 May 2017 at 07:30hrs | Views
Matabeleland South Zapu Spokesperson Ernest Ndlovu has blasted the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education following its announcement of plans to close 40 schools in Matabeleland South on the grounds that they were not economic in operation due to low enrollment rates.
In a statement, Ndlovu said those who advocate closure of schools citing viability are insensitive and in violation of children 's rights to education, schools cited are situated in sparsely populated resettlement area true where owners of small hold plots live in towns.
He said children who attend those schools come from the poor farm workers who earn between $50 and $150 dollars.
"Some have gone for several month without pay since their masters can't even access cash or are not paid either. Some children are at home not going to school due to non-payment of school fees, Zanu-PF government has created all these problems and is a shame for a permanent secretary to call for the closure of schools without proper research and declare viability problems at mess of poor citing viability, during the white regime," he said "Before the land reform the problem of poor enrollment was critical but there was composite classes to accommodate all children in the vicinity, what is meant by viability in child education besides gross mismanagement in government systems."
He said Zanu-PF MP for Insiza South Malaki Nkomo should have reasoned before supporting such moves considering economic hardships faced by people of Matabeleland and why is the situation affecting Matabeleland only.
"Government should consider other possibilities than the closure of schools are there any alternatives after the closure of schools," he said.
In a statement, Ndlovu said those who advocate closure of schools citing viability are insensitive and in violation of children 's rights to education, schools cited are situated in sparsely populated resettlement area true where owners of small hold plots live in towns.
He said children who attend those schools come from the poor farm workers who earn between $50 and $150 dollars.
"Some have gone for several month without pay since their masters can't even access cash or are not paid either. Some children are at home not going to school due to non-payment of school fees, Zanu-PF government has created all these problems and is a shame for a permanent secretary to call for the closure of schools without proper research and declare viability problems at mess of poor citing viability, during the white regime," he said "Before the land reform the problem of poor enrollment was critical but there was composite classes to accommodate all children in the vicinity, what is meant by viability in child education besides gross mismanagement in government systems."
He said Zanu-PF MP for Insiza South Malaki Nkomo should have reasoned before supporting such moves considering economic hardships faced by people of Matabeleland and why is the situation affecting Matabeleland only.
"Government should consider other possibilities than the closure of schools are there any alternatives after the closure of schools," he said.
Source - Byo234News
