Dokora praises teachers

Shingirai Huni Herald Reporter
Outgoing Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Cde Lazarus Dokora has praised teachers for their unwavering commitment to their profession despite the hardships they face in discharging their duties.Speaking in an interview with Star FM on Monday, Cde Dokora hailed teachers, especially those working in rural areas.
“In the most difficult of circumstances . . . teachers with degrees, living in those conditions are waking up everyday putting up their best to go and teach the local children there,” he said.

“They must be praised for doing that, it’s good they have this commitment.”
Cde Dokora said there was a need to improve education infrastructure for quality education as well as raising the living standards of teachers who work in rural areas and at boarding schools.

He said there was a need for the increase of learning spaces to cater for every pupil. Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said in an interview that the incoming Minister of Education should mobilise resources and channel them towards the improvement of education infrastructure.

“Education infrastructure needs to be improved, the Government should mobilise resources and channel them towards that area,” he said.

“Most of our teachers live under difficult conditions, accommodation is dilapidated.”
Mr Ndlovu highlighted the need for the education ministry to address the perennial problem of unqualified teachers, saying there should be a coordinated approach between the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to enhance the quality of teachers.

“Government needs to address the perennial problem of unqualified teachers to have only qualified teachers in the education sector,” he said.

“We need a Teaching Professional Council that determines the entry and exit of professionals in the education sector.”
Mr Ndlovu said the ministry of education should be allowed to focus on the delivery of learning processes to learners and teachers.

“Salaries should be left to the employer or a commission so that there is separation of powers,” he said.
Teachers are optimistic that their fortunes will change following President Mugabe’s assurances that salaries for civil servants would be improved soon.