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Education sector report on schools' opening
Harare Residents' Trust (HRT)
January 13, 2012

Introduction

Education is the key to success in an African context and is a basic human right recognised in the International Convention on the rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights of the Child, to which the Zimbabwe Government is a signatory. Concerns have been raised by the residents of Harare, who are parents of school-going pupils, with regards to the education system in both council and government schools. This monitoring is in line with the HRT's Goal Number Four which is "To monitor and audit the performance of service providers so that they deliver quality and affordable services to the citizenry". Most teachers in Harare reported for work in response to the no-strike call by teacher organisations the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA). There is reported presence of the police in schools to ensure that the beginning of the learning season is not disrupted by teachers' absence. The HRT is closely following events unfolding within the education sector, in line with the organisation's Service Delivery Policy on education which among other issues recognises the right to education of all citizens. Harare residents continue to face problems with service providers, which have undermined service delivery in critical social economical sectors of human survival and development like health and education. To strengthen the HRT's evidence based advocacy, grassroots community coordinators have gathered information from all areas of Harare, specifically in the education sector. In this report, the HRT documents the findings of a weeklong research in education centres, primary and secondary schools as the First school Term of 2012 begins. The key objective of the research was to assess the readiness of school authorities and monitor the situation in schools as the term begins. This report is split into sub-topics of teachers and pupils' attendance, fees structures, school environment, educational assistance and HRT observations and comments. By so doing, the HRT has become the voice of the residents of Harare and continues to influence service delivery by all means feasible. Scenarios in different suburbs and schools are presented in this brief, but consolidated report. Information was gathered through mainly observations and interviews with parents and teachers.

Major Highlights

Teachers and Pupils Attendance:

Majority of the schools in Harare were only accepting students who have paid their fees, those whose fees for 2011 have cleared and those who can come up with an acceptable payment plan for this term's fees. Those who failed to produce proof of payment are being turned away. Nettleton, Morgan High, Braeside, Tafara High 1 and Tafara Primary were not accepting students without fees, but Warren Park High was accepting parents that had payment terms and no students were turned away at Kuwadzana 5 Primary School.

New Pupils' Enrolment:

Some parents expressed disappointment when they were turned away together with their children as school authorities indicated that they had no openings for new pupils in all primary classes. Most schools have posted notices on their notice boards indicating they are no longer taking in new pupils from Early Childhood Development (ECD) to Grade 7. However, Hatcliffe Primary School still had vacancies for grade one and are still open for enrolment until the 19th of January 2012.

School fees:

School fees for the term generally remained unchanged from last year at most schools.

Fees for Hatfield High remain at $141 while a marginal increase was recorded for Morgan High School where fees increased from $147 to $157 for Advanced Level students. Other schools had plans for fee increases yet to be approved by the Ministry of Education, Arts, Sports and Culture. Hatfield Primary School administration intended to increase fees from $60 to $120 to fund the building of an ECD block, while Oriel Boys High School is awaiting approval to increase fees from$115.00 to $150.00. Fees at Warren Park High School are still at $75 for levy and tuition has been raised by US$10 from US$45 to $55. Parents expressed concern over this increase saying this should be done transparently with the open participation of parents. They claimed that this has become a trend where levies are marginally increased every term beginning without consultation.

School Environment:

The situation at most schools was ideal for the conduct of lessons. General hands at most schools were busy clearing school grounds which have overgrown grass. What appears to be lacking at most schools is close monitoring of the general non-teaching staff. It was observed that while teachers close at the end of school terms together with pupils, the non-teaching staff is supposed to keep schools clean, safe and healthy. Some pupils were speculating that they might be forced to cut overgrown grass within their schools as punishment or general work, yet there are people employed to maintain the school grounds.

Financial Assistance:

There was much activity-taking place at Mavambo organisation which is well known for assisting the less privileged people and children within the community. Parents were sitting outside the gate with hope of getting assistance so their children can start the term alongside their peers.

Conclusion

It is evident that the school term has kicked off on a good note and gives hope for Zimbabwe's education sector which may possibly contribute to the attainment of Millennium Development Goal number Two which seek "to achieve universal primary education by 2015". The HRT will continuously monitor the education sector because it is an integral part of development for Harare and the wider nation.

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