The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
DEBATE surrounding the national pledge was re-ignited at the two-day seminar held last week to review the progress made by the new curriculum, with some stakeholders in the education sector noting pockets of resistance due to religious concerns.
“The truth is the national pledge was not well received by parents, teachers and the students and the implementation of this national pledge was associated with some fears such that some people were not free to talk about what they actually felt. Some even felt that it was against their beliefs,” said a Manicaland primary school teacher.
Another said the resistance was largely due to the pledge’s conflict with religious beliefs.
“It starts by saying, ‘Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies . . . ’ you are talking to God. In the same sentence it says, ‘I salute the national flag . . .’ so we are asking ourselves what exactly is happening. The national pledge has got a touch of idol worship.”
Another teacher said there was no awareness campaign to inform people who the pledge was addressing.
“It is like you are addressing someone but you are not sure who you are addressing. So it brought a bit of fear, a bit of uncertainty and a bit of confusion,” said a Harare teacher.
The teachers said there was need for comprehensive consultation before the national pledge was adopted.
“We are kindly asking the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to consider doing away with the national pledge; the national anthem can serve the same purpose,” they argued.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavhima said there is need to engage various stakeholders. “The voice of the people is relevant in all developmental matters and this is why stakeholders’ meetings are relevant. We will look at the write-up of the various concerns and appropriate action will be taken,” he said.
In 2016, several church organisations protested over the national pledge, arguing that it violated their right to freedom of worship.
The wording of the national pledge was derived from the Preamble of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and introduced in schools when Dr Lazarus Dokora was at the helm of the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry.
