The Sunday Mail
The Government has vowed to punish schools and teachers that are defying its directive to stop conducting extra lessons, which, authorities say, tutors are vigorously pursuing at the expense of normal teaching.
The warning comes as investigations by The Sunday Mail revealed that education officials have been secretly deployed to monitor some schools where teachers are suspected to be conducting extra lessons.
Defiant teachers will either be fired or suspended, according to Government.
Earlier this year, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora issued a ban on extra lessons following indications that a good number of teachers were not pulling their weight during normal working hours in a bid to generate funds through extra lessons.
Despite the ban, some teachers and parents are still conniving to continue with the extra classes.
The lessons range between US$2 and US$10 per week.
It has been argued that teachers need the extra money to supplement their meagre salaries.
Teachers earn between US$325 and US$500 against a poverty datum line pegged slightly above US$500 per month.
Those who support extra lessons also contend that an extended learning period will boost student performance.
However, the authorities maintain that learners need to rest during school holidays while teachers plan for the following term.
In addition, analysts say student performance is determined by factors such as teacher competency, availability of teaching-learning materials, student motivation and adequacy of time allocated to various subjects.
They have also pointed out that the time allocated to each subject per term is enough to cover the syllabus without resorting to extra or holiday lessons.
Statutory Instrument 107 of 2005 states that a school calendar should provide for at least 180 days and not more than 200 days in each year. This year’s school calendar has 189 days.
Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavima said teachers should not conduct extra lessons and appealed to parents to co-operate with his ministry.
“We will welcome information from parents or communities so that we can institute investigations about teachers who are still conducting extra lessons and take appropriate action,” he said.
“We cannot rely on allegations that some schools are doing it, but if we get a full and specific report, then the ministry will take appropriate action.
“So, if we get that information, definitely we will investigate. There are a number of channels that can be used; we have District Education Offices, we have Provincial Education Offices and departments here at headquarters that deal with public relations. We have also the Secretary’s Office.”
In April, Minister Dokora told The Sunday Mail that extra lessons were a money-spinning initiative that disadvantages learners. He added that the parents’ ability to pay should not be an excuse to conduct the lessons.
“Learners need a break to renew their zeal and zest for learning. It is instructive to note that extra or holiday lessons were being organised purely for monetary reasons, not for circular considerations.
“An analysis of school performance in public examinations shows that schools that conduct ‘extra’ lessons do not necessarily perform any better than those that do not conduct them.
“Holiday lessons are a disadvantage to the child who needs a break. Parents should appreciate the importance of allowing their children to have a break so that they can go back to school ‘recharged’!
“Parents should use holidays to spend quality time with their children. The ability of parents to pay for the lessons is not the issue. It is a deliberate attempt to deny children a break for monetary reasons that are of concern to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.”
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu could not be reached for comment. He, however, recently told The Sunday Mail that the extra lessons were benefiting teachers.
He added that the association was looking forward to Government improving the earnings of teachers.
