Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
SOME schools in Binga, Matabeleland North province are reportedly shortchanging learners as teachers are said to be sending pupils back home or demanding incentives claiming incapacitation to conduct lessons.

Teachers are reportedly demanding incentives from parents for them to teach.

Chronicle understands that pupils attending Binga Primary School at Binga Centre, Kalungwizi in Siabuwa and Pashu in Pashu area have not been having lessons since schools opened last month because teachers claim to be incapacitated to teach.

At Binga Primary School, teachers are reportedly demanding US$6 incentive to teach each child.
Parents have appealed to Government to intervene.

Parents said they are worried that pupils who should write public examinations may not complete the syllabuses.
School holidays have since last year been prolonged due to the Covid-19 pandemic leaving learners with limited time to have face-to face lessons with teachers.

Schools have been relying on virtual and radio lessons which some learners especially in Binga fail to access them due to a myriad of challenges, among them lack of reliable connectivity.

On the other hand, teachers, just like other civil servants, have been receiving their salaries even when schools were closed due to lockdown, and parents feel this should instil empathy in them to teach.

“We are worried as parents. We pray teachers should realise that they were seated at home for almost the whole year but receiving their salaries. We have been having a challenge whereby teachers at Binga primary have not been teaching since schools opened claiming they are incapacitated to teach and the headmaster has been sending kids back home telling them there are no teachers,” said Mr Mayas Mudenda, a parent and executive member of the Binga Residents’ Association.

He appealed to teachers to consider the plight of learners who have lost quality learning time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“They should not hold parents at ransom and understand that we have the same plight as we were also affected by Covid-19 hence they should go to work in the meantime as they continue to engage their employer on salaries. We should not disadvantage learners,” said Mr Mudenda.

Chronicle was told that at Binga and Kalungwizi schools pupils were sent home on opening day.

“What irks Binga residents is that three-quarters of teachers at the school stay at the staff cottages where they don’t pay water and electricity bills and also have no transport costs to talk about.

“Their incapacitation is questionable and we are disturbed as parents. We never complained about paying fees but now they want us to pay US$6 per child. Parents refused and offered US$3 which teachers said was too little,” said a parent who preferred to remain anonymous.

Parents reported to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education officials and teachers reportedly stopped sending pupils away but continued not conducting lessons.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said teachers and schools that turn away learners are violating the law.

“All I can say is that we have over 90 percent teachers and over 85 percent learners in schools and we would want to warn and caution those turning away pupils to stop it,” said Mr Ndoro.

The Public Service Commission recently announced that salaries for civil servants will now be determined by the number of days one reports for work. — @ncubeleon