adminThe Rhodesia Herald,
June 24, 1968
ADULT literacy classes started at Salisbury’s Dzivaresekwa (Gillingham) African Township last year, now attended by 66 students, may soon suffer because of lack of financial support, the teaching supervisor, Mrs Janet Matema, said at the weekend.
Mrs Matema, a full employee of the Adult Literacy Council, said the 10 teachers who give lessons to township residents in the morning and evenings were doing “wonderful work” but some of them could be discouraged because of a lack of sympathisers.
The teachers are not paid a salary and do the job voluntarily. The organisation is a private one operating independently of the Government.
Mrs Matema said, each student paid 2 shillings a month. The fees were shared among the teachers.
“But some of the students cannot pay and a good number of them are dropping from their classes almost every month,” she said.
This, and the drop in enrolment was putting some of the teachers in an “embarrassing position”.
Mrs Albertina Hlupo, a social worker at the township, said there was a great need for adult education.
The women take their lessons in the morning three times a week, and the men do theirs daily in the evening.
They are all being taught to write and read Shona. Soon English, arithmetic, and letter-writing will be added to the courses of study.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
There will always be huge demand for education regardless of age. In Mhangura for instance there is a group of grandmothers in their ‘70s and ‘80s who are attending primary school with their grandchildren.
Government should continue to ensure that education is available and accessible to all through programmes such as BEAM.
Schools should re-enact evening classes to accommodate older students who may not feel comfortable mixing with the younger generations.
The country prides itself in having high literacy levels and this can only be maintained if everyone requiring education is accommodated.
Online Reporter