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Chigwedere
is an 'academic terrorist'
Takavafira M Zhou, President,
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
May 30, 2004
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/skinned/front_reader.asp?st_id=4250
Chigwedere's
resignation is long overdue for educational terrorism of the worst
order.
As the Minister
of Education, Sport and Culture, one would have expected Chigwedere
to uphold Zimbabwe's high educational standards, restore the status
of the teaching profession and guarantee teachers security of tenure.
On the contrary the Minister has proved to be insensitive to the
educational needs of the moment and is bent on destroying the education
system in Zimbabwe.
Chigwedere was
instrumental in banning ZJC examinations in the 1990s, which he
now has re-introduced. He was also involved in the hap-hazard localisation
of 'A' level examinations and the the compulsory and rushed ZIMSECISATION
of 'O' and 'A' level examinations.
He denigrated
teachers by calling them drunkards in 2002 and urged parents to
take the law into their own hands to dismiss them willy-nilly. He
had the temerity to declare openly that his ministry would not protect
teachers terrorised by rogue war veterans and militias in the period
2000-2002.
When teachers
called for better pay and engaged in the legal PTUZ -led October
Revolution in 2002, he fired 627 teachers and engaged Green Bombers
to baby-sit pupils and invigilate end of year examinations. What
a shame! Thereafter he promised teachers a hefty salary, which never
was.
Chigwedere is
also infamous for his abortive one school uniform in all schools
in Zimbabwe. Recently he unlawfully closed 45 private schools with
the consequent suffering of more than 30 000 pupils for a week.
The whole move was blatantly discriminatory and palpably unjust.
It is clear
that under Chigwedere the education system has gone to the dogs.
The man is so committed to the destruction of the education system
and claims to be 'THE ALL and IN ALL".
No government
official is intensely hated by parents, pupils and teachers as Chigwedere.
Some call him,
'an academic terrorist', while others say he is an 'educated barbarian'
and a 'medalist in verbal marathon'. Others claim the man suffers
from megalomaniacal-vernality.
Chigwedere should
leave the education battle to those who posses the intellect and
skills to manage the education system. By choosing to stay on and
run the education system through his "hap-hazardous" and
meddling methods he has entered a competitive arena for which he
is ill-equipped.
In the process
he has bloodied himself, tarnished his image and risks removal by
discontented Zimbabweans. Surely the education system is no longer
in intensive care but in the terminal ward.
The educational leadership has decayed before it is dead. If ever
Chigwedere is looking for a solution to the educational woes, then
it is clear he is wondering in an educational wilderness looking
for an educational policy.
The only remaining
pillar of strength in Zimbabwe has been its education system, yet
Chigwedere is busy destroying where he has never built. One wonders
why President Mugabe has not dismissed, or instituted criminal investigations
against such a man.
Perhaps he is
a manifestation of the aspirations of the new order in Zimbabwe,
reflecting its abandonment of nobler values of enlightened humanity
and of those fundamental principles of justice, which are part of
the common heritage of all mankind, from grace to grass.
For how long
will Zimbabweans tolerate the rot? Surely, enough is enough, Chigwedere
must give way to dynamic and progressive people.
Visit the PTUZ
fact sheet
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