via Are we Zimbabweans really educated? – Southern Eye 17 July 2015 by Welshman Ncube
IF there is anything that avid “career” critics of President Robert Mugabe want to avoid, it is showering him with accolades on how in the early years of his rule he injected critical traction in Zimbabwe’s education system by making it accessible to just about every child of school-going age.
Primary schools sprouted in virtually every ward of the country while secondary schools became available in fair numbers in all districts of the country. The “residual symptoms” of his obsession with education are not only noticed around his own personal qualifications, but also that Zimbabwe still boasts one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.
It is almost impossible to encounter a Zimbabwean who cannot read or write, even in the most backward rural outposts. Wherever one goes — day and night — you encounter a Zimbabwean carrying books or “going to school or college”. Most urban schools in the country practice “hot seating” in order to cater for large numbers of students.
Three ironies on this. All tragic. Firstly, Mugabe’s vociferous propaganda machinery trumpets this literacy success, but when it comes to elections; they claim “ownership” over substantial “illiterate assisted voters” ! Secondly, the 1980s education expansion has just about cancelled itself out due to two factors — one we have graduates, some with first class Masters degrees who have never held a job since graduating, some more than a decade ago, begging the question, of what value is education if it cannot secure a job and a livelihood.
Two, the education infrastructure and system so painstakingly expanded and built up in the 1980s has all but decayed and collapsed.
It is in a sorry state today. Thirdly, while parents do and sacrifice so much to get an education for their children we often get told in the political arena that education does not matter as we are foisted with clueless politicians seeking high office.
It is then said what is the value of education when those who have destroyed this country have seven degrees and presided over the decay and rot of the country together with some of the most educated ministers in the world. Why not then try those with little education we are asked. This is Zimbabwe- the land of the incomprehensible!
Barring the current furore over Grade Seven examination fees, for decades, primary school in Zimbabwe has been universal with public schools charging a pittance to attract as many underprivileged pupils as possible. Social academic Mary Ndlovu has researched extensively on Zimbabwean education.
She noted that just before independence (for more reasons other than war), school enrollment was under a million. By the mid-1980s, it was a case of “total number of primary schools increasing from 2,400 in 1979 to 4,530 in 1990.” (Some government documents say the primary sector doubled in enrolments, from 1,219 million in 1980 to 2,2 million in 1989.
The number of primary schools increased from 3161, in 1980, to 4779 in 2004.)
This upward surge was proportionately reflected in teacher training and curriculum development, unfortunately, too academic. Ndlovu’s problem with literacy figures was to what extent they took into account school dropouts, but that is the least of my worry for now.
This education “conveyor belt” churned millions into secondary schools and thousands into colleges. Even today, Zimbabwe’s human capital is highly regarded in all corners of the world and like an international convertible currency, our citizens fit in any system. Compared to neighbours Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, Zimbabweans emerge from four years of education slightly “enlightened” than their Sadc compatriots.
Had the 1999 Nziramasanga Commission findings been implemented, our country’s institutions would have by now been operating at Harvard,
Oxford, UCT and MIT level. Between 1991 and 2001, percentage of education expenditure as a percentage of gross national product ranged between 4-9%, this according to a paper titled: Current Performance Of The Education Sector In Zimbabwe — Key Policy Challenges Facing The Sector by Louis Masuko, 2003. He also adds: “There has been an increase in university enrolments following the opening of new universities in Zimbabwe.” A document tiltled: National Action Plan Of Zimbabwe — Education For All Towards 2015 says:
“Since independence, the education sector has received, on average, above 20% of the national budget in a bid to increase access and participation.”
Yet, if one keeps tracking, or extrapolating, the Ndlovu research trajectory, one is confronted with “meteoric” decline in quality post 2000. That is why she concludes: “However, we do ourselves and Zimbabwe no favour if we simply praise the expansion and make questionable claims for its great success, without examining the legacy of problems which it bequeathed to future generations.
It is difficult to deny that the system served the few very well, while failing to provide an adequate preparation for life for the many…Politics trumped realism, leaving the legacy of failure which we must struggle today to overcome.”
This is my point. In his 35 years of rule, Mugabe has always “stocked” his Cabinet with highly “educated” ministers. Ironically, at a time when Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) had uneducated; policy makers, the country’s industry was considered the second best in Africa. By 2000, each parastatal, government department, Cabinet, politburo, embassy was staffed with highly educated citizens, yet the economy broke hyperinflation records.
It is the same period that the country experienced the worst human rights violations, the worst food shortages, the highest unemployment and the worst electoral cheating. Do you wonder then why the cynics even as they go without food and failing to raise money for school fees for their children then tell us to elect as political leaders those that are like the Rhodesian political leadership.
Millions of registered voters have been trooping to polling stations since year 2000 and, while I am in no way insinuating that their voting for MDC would have reflected enlightenment, my point is that democracy and constitutionalism are a form of modern-day englightment. ‘Educated’ people must discern propaganda from reality; pragmatic from false promises.
“Educated” people are not bought with beer, packs of mealie meal and ‘free’ transport to political rallies. I do not think if we were “really” educated, we would have allowed Zanu PF leaders to “give” us noose like pieces of ‘land’ withdrawable at any time we fall out with them and flood us with presidential inputs just to make us vote for them.
How is it that “educated” Zimbabweans have watched with bemused envy as neighbours Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa change presidents “like shoes” while we are stuck with one “strong man” for 35 years?
Almost three years after the new Constitution was promulgated, “educated” Zimbabweans either know very little of its content or have no idea when laws will be aligned. Educated as we are, we are still compelled to attend.
Zanu PF rallies, allow ZBC to be (ab)used as State instead of public broadcaster. We still stand powerless as Zanu PF (educated) cronies obliterate the National Railways, ZESA, GMB, TelOne and other state-run entities.
If literacy rates are above 90%; and unemployment is above 90%, with millions in the country ‘surviving’ from the informal sector, it means Zimbabwe boasts an unenviable record of having the most educated poor people in the world. Education is an investment, but cannot automatically be equated to wealth. It is time we enjoyed the full benefits of “applied education”.
A responsible government will ensure this happens by improving the learning environment of pupils and students and the conditions of teachers in schools and ensuring that all education institutions in the country design relevant education curricula and offer training programmes that are pertinent to industry and society and to the overall sustainable development of the Zimbabwean economy.
We will stimulate accelerated economic growth through widespread access to information with new information technologies so as to come up with practical solutions and identify opportunities.
We will close the gap between theoretical and technical skills by expanding vocational and technical institutions so as to afford training opportunities to all Zimbabweans so that every single job in all industries is done by a competent professional and this will continue to improve literacy levels at the workplace and to increase productivity.
COMMENTS
I find this piece quite contradictory or lost in failed logic. Everything that has happened agrees with the fact that Zimbabweans are educated. 1. They can feet in every society; infect they re highly regarded in foreign countries in actually delivering especially in education. 2. In 2000, 2008 and 2013 the educated Zimbabweans voted to change their government but a junta denied them that choice by the back door. 3. That Zimbabweans remained relatively peaceful at the face of provocation again is testament to their level of understanding otherwise war would have been the answer. 4. There is a relative rise of mobilization by the educated Zimbabwean to refocus the struggle. 5. A good number of these educated Zimbabweans left the country probably because they had correctly estimated that removing Mugabe from power would be impossible. We are failed not by our education (because honestly our successes outside Zimbabwe tells that we are goo) rather we are failed by demagogues who destroy the educated and the uneducated.
Morris, it`s fit not feet. And it`s in fact, not infect. Talk of educated Zimbabweans!!!!
Yes, it is a bit confused.
I think we can safely say that Zimbabweans are “educated, but stupid”
As the saying goes, education can cure ignorance, but stupidity is incurable. And one just have to look at our country to see a very high degree of stupidity in action at all levels of society
There was a chance to throw Bob and his ZANU into the dustbin but the “educated” Professor, in his wisdom, chose to scupper the whole thing over a technicality.
Besides, he is a beneficiary of ZANU pf’s largesse in owning the odd farm or two.
A german foundation(CDG) used to give 15 students from 101 non european countries scholarships every year to study in germany.In an internal report i personaly read, they ranked zimbabwe no. 2 together with south korea. Number 1 was singapore according to the test results for giving the the scholarships.
we are educated but not learned…..
15 from every country. USA, south america, africa, near and fast east, arabia and even a small iceland in the pacific.
Zimbos often do extremely well outside Zimbabwe. We just don’t seem to be able to run a country.
The majority are easily hoodwinked, and of course are justifyably frightened. I have spent time in East Germany (GDR) in the Communist days, and the fear in Zim is very similar
True we always ask ourselves here in South Africa that if they claim they educated why then they dont use their education to think.surely their education mean nothing ,they just pass but they cant apply what they have leant.
That we are educated is not in doubt. what we can discuss is whether we have used this education to improve our collective well being. For me, certainly not. The reason I think is two fold. (1)we take education as an end in itself not a means to an end. (2) we equate education to intelligence. I see this every time I follow Zimbos debating. Generally no Zimbo wants to accept the viewpoint of the other because this may be interpreted to mean one is less educated or worse, less intelligent. So even “stupid” ideas are defended to the bitter end. Often in these debates statement like “you cannot tell me anything because I am educated” or “what do you know? you do not even have three O-levels” are passed. The end result is no agreement is reached even where humble advice and humility would have resolved the problem. Worse, education is taken as a status symbol not a tool to be applied in uplifting ourselves. I often tease my kids – they get brilliant marks in science yet they cannot fix a faulty light bulb. Similarly we have so many PhDs in science and boast about it yet when we want to prepare sadza our mothers and sisters have to make fire the same way our great great great grandmothers did it. We have failed to make the bridge between getting an educational qualification and applying the acquired knowledge in our day to day living.
An ability to pass standardized tests is less relevant than the desire as well as the means to make sure that learning never ends according to Forbes.
Kohn suggests several possible definitions:
1.To develop the intellect, presumably including linguistic, mathematical and analytic capabilities.
2.To produce competent, caring, loving, and lovable people.
3.To create and sustain a democratic society
4.To invest in producing future workers for the workforce and, ultimately, corporate profits.
Education is the process of facilitating learning. Knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits of a group of people are transferred to other people, through storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, or research. Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational.
Education is commonly and formally divided into stages such as preschool, primary school, secondary school and then college, university or apprenticeship. Wikipedia
From the above definition what I would say is that Zimbabweans are educated in that their way of thinking have been transformed, they can read and write and speak in their languages almost 90%. The Zimbabwean society fit in the above, hence they are educated.
The dilemma with the Zimbabweans is that after acquiring that education, the last part of Kohn definition of To invest in producing future workers for the workforce and, ultimately, corporate profits, is lacking. There is no profit being generated from the investment since MUGABE has destroyed the corporate world of ZIMBABWE. As mentioned by the writer that graduates spend even 10 year without finding a job or even capital to invest and exploit the knowledge into profits.
Mugabe as a teacher lacked the last leg that for the education investment to be sustained the graduates need to last part, so that the funding into education does not end. Currently, the educators and learners are scattered in other SADC, AU and European countries. The investment failed to bear positive results.
That we are educated is just Zanu PF propaganda like, we used to say, best roads, best healthcare in Africa etc. Just a pack of lies. Education is meant to empower people, its supposed to enlighten people of their rights etc. All that is absent in Zim. Its another lie that we do well in other countries. Has there ever been a scientific study to this effect? Fact that one becomes CEO of that RSA conglomerate or engineer in another does not mean we are flying out there. Has there been comparison with other African e.g. Nigerians or Zambians? Even the level of our print or electronic journalism compared with even Botswana, our quality is just poorer. Honestly the world has moved on, we are still stuck in the 80’s. I totally agree with this article
Compared to most countries in the world, ma Zimbos are not maDofo.Read an indepedent report from the Germans(CDG). The whole world knows how good German presicion is.
Pane kupusa then uchenjeri.Unogona kuva nemadegrees 7 asi wakapusa usina Uchenjeri.Kuverengera kupasa nokuverengera kuti uve neruzivo zvakasiyana sekufungawo kwangu.Ndipo pane dambudziko redu isu mazimba.Saka tine govt yakaora nekuti havana uchenjeri vakapusa vanopererwa vopedzisira vave kuba nekuponda njere chaidzo hapana. Its a shame to be a zimbo. Our leaders are a shame in the whole world, so let’s not talk of mazimba akadzidza it doesn’t hold water.
The reason Mugabe made education available to everyone was to indoctrinate and brainwash the youth to be blindly loyal to ZANUPF a trick he leaned from his masters in Korea who supplied him with his 5th Brigade force he used to suppress rebellion and murder over 20 000 Zimbabweans. Just compare his style of leadership to those of KIM JUNG.