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Felex Share, Harare Bureau
Student teachers have appealed to Government to compel colleges to reduce or scrap the teaching practice fee as it is leaving them with a monthly allowance of between $20 and $50.

As part of the civil service rationalisation, the Government reduced student teachers allowances from $329 to $157.

From the $157, colleges deduct between $90 and $110 dollars as teaching practice fee.

The fee is for the assessment of the students and printing of study packs while on teaching practice.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Mr Richard Gundane on Monday said the Government was shortchanging the students, who had a number of obligations to meet.

“This is one of the measures brought about by the civil service audit,” he said.

“It is one of the areas we identified and spoke strongly against. What the students are getting is already little and remember, as Government, they have an obligation to train personnel, giving all assistance to students. This is done so that we have a strong human capital base which we will rely on for the development of this country. For Government to reduce the allowances, it defeats the whole purpose.”

Mr Gundane added: “It is one area Government must look at with a view of going back on the obtaining rates. If anything, efforts should be made to improve those meagre allowances. The students still have to travel back to their colleges because there are projects and assignments which require their physical presence at their respective colleges. They end up with nothing and the majority of them come from poor families who have weaned them off with the hope that they will get some allowances. Most of these young people end up resorting to prostitution and all sorts of vices.”
College Lecturers’ of Zimbabwe president, Mr David Dzatsunga said the Government should intervene for the teacher training programme to remain attractive.

“It is Government which should move in and assist the students,” he said.

“Most of them will drop out of college and everyone will shun this training programme because the allowance is not enough to sustain students.”

Interviewed students said the Government should engage colleges to reduce the teaching practice fee.

“For 18 months, I will be on teaching practice and every month I am left with less than $50,” said a student teacher from Madziwa Teachers’ College.

“Surviving on that amount is difficult and what will we do for our upkeep? We believe Government should ensure that all the colleges reduce this teaching practice fee. Most of us will not be able to complete these courses if things remain like this.”

Another student from Mkoba Teachers’ College said: “Most of us were of the view that we would sustain ourselves and make savings for our school fees but this is no longer possible. The teaching practice fee has to come down as we believe it has left us wallowing in poverty.”

The rationalisation exercise by Government is expected to serve about $400 million annually.