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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter—-
SCHOOLS are under pressure to provide adequate infrastructure and equipment for Early Childhood Development (ECD) as the government pushes for the enforcement of a compulsory nine-year primary education for pupils in January 2015. The government introduced the two-year ECD programme, also known as Grade Zero, in 2004 after realising that early childhood was the most crucial period of a child’s life.
Next year it will be mandatory.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has given all schools up to January next year to make sure that no pupils are enrolled for Grade One before they go through ECD A for those who are four years old and ECD B, for those who are a year older.
It has, however, emerged that most government and council-run schools have no capacity to accommodate the extra classes that will be created as a result of the government’s deadline.
Some schools have not adopted the system, citing various challenges, while some are using makeshift infrastructure, resulting in parents being reluctant to send their children for ECD.
The move is also expected to put pressure on the education budget as more teachers have to be recruited in all the schools for the new classes.
Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Dan Moyo declined to comment on the issue, saying he was in Harare.
School Development Associations (SDAs) from Bulawayo schools yesterday said they were under pressure to raise funds to make available the required infrastructure with only six months left for compliance.
They urged the government to provide grants to schools for building additional infrastructure to cater for the new classes.
“We understand the importance of the ECD programme in schools but we have challenges in raising funds to construct the required infrastructure. The government does not allow us to increase fees which makes it difficult for us to have extra funds for the programme,” said an SDA chairperson from a city primary school who requested anonymity saying he did not want to appear to be against the government’s order.
He added: “If the government does not assist with the funds, schools will struggle or fail to provide proper infrastructure for the children. This will seriously affect the ECD programme”.
Another SDC chairperson said the development would create problems between schools and parents, most of whom are already failing to pay school fees.
“We have no choice but to extend the burden to parents by requesting them to pay extra money specifically for constructing the required infrastructure.
“This will, however, create more tension between the school and the parents because we’re already fighting with them over non-payment of fees,” he said.
The SDC chairperson urged the government to seriously consider making funds available for schools to meet the required standards for the ECD programme.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said the government’s order was a positive development for purposes of promoting quality education in the country.
“This is necessary for promoting intellectual development of the children. Early education is as important as any education,” he said.
Ndlovu urged schools to try and raise funds for the construction of buildings and not wait for grants from the government.
“If schools wait for grants, this might take long to be implemented. If we suggest that the presence of infrastructure should determine the implementation of the programme then it will take years.”
Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Lazarus Dokora, could not be reached for comment.
But he is on record as saying the government has done its part in ensuring that children get better education and it was now the role of parents and schools to make sure they accommodate the ECD classes.
Dr Dokora said the new system would equip infants with a basic education foundation that prepares them better for their later years in school.
The move is also meant to render pre-schools irrelevant as they are said to be fleecing parents of their hard-earned cash in activities that are not beneficial to the children.
derick.khumalo