The Sunday Mail
President Mugabe has implored educators to protect the teaching profession despite low remuneration packages saying the future of the country depended on an effective and vibrant education system. Officially opening the Second Education Conference and Expo on Tuesday, President Mugabe said although Government is willing to improve the welfare of teachers, revenue is still little to be shared adequately among all the sectors.
The President, who is also touted as the greatest educationist in the country, said Government has since 1980 put education first in its budget allocations as it is the key to unlock the country’s rich resources.
“I know it’s not all sunny and glorious in teaching,” he said.
“We have always said we do not teach for money, but we must also live as teachers, have decent homes, be able to have decent clothes, be able to educate our children and so, we need decent salaries.
“If we are not paying, it is not because we don’t appreciate, no. It is because the cake to be divided amongst so many is still little and we have wealth in the ground.
“As we exploit and bring it out to the surface, our incomes, surely the salaries will go up, but don’t despair.
“Yesterday might have been hard. Tomorrow will not continue to be like that. But in the meantime, let’s keep our profession, succeed and let Zimbabwe continue to shine but the literacy rate must not drop.”
President Mugabe also said the high literacy rate should translate into socio-economic development of the country.
He said this can be accelerated with the promotion of science, mathematics and ICT subjects which have seen little uptake so far. The country has made significant strides in developing education with much progress made in the building of schools and universities.
This progress could not have been made if it was not for the visionary leadership of the President, according to Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora.
Speaking at the same event Dr Dokora said: “We are fulfilling the vision of 1980 by guaranteeing an education that truly equips learners and creates boundless opportunities.
“That demonstrates the commitment to give precedence to education, a feat which the Government of Zimbabwe has undertaken year after year since the attainment of independence in 1980 and kudos to our guest of honour for ensuring that this flagship remains preserved.
“Indeed, the Zimbabwe education system has undergone massive expansion as a result of the commitment by Government to provide education for all since independence.”
The conference which began on Tuesday and ended on Friday ran under the theme “Growing Socio-Economic Opportunities through Quality Education in the 21st Century”.
The conference attracted 3 000 school heads, 72 district education officers, 500 students and 44 exhibitors. It was also graced by delegates from Sadc countries while some came from as far as South Sudan. The first education conference and expo was held in 2013 and this year’s event was a clear improvement on the first.
Curriculum development expert, Mr Randal Madzivanzira, hailed the education Indaba saying it provided a platform for cross fertlisation of ideas for Sadc countries.
He said it was also an opportunity to integrate various technologies and modern computer software in the education system.
“It’s an opportunity to share with other countries what we are doing as a nation while they also share with us what they do in their countries,” he said.
“As you are aware we are in the process of reviewing our curriculum, it would be helpful to hear from others who have done it or are doing it.”
School children who attended the education conference commended the visionary leadership of President Mugabe that saw him giving out computers to schools in an effort to lead and deliver quality education.
The President toured the e-learning exhibition stand where he was told that 60 model schools have e-learning in eight rural provinces and that 1 000 public schools are using e-learning.
