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“WATCH out-here I come!” says Fadzai Chirimambowa (15) a Form Two girl learner at Rimbi High School in Chipinge. In a one-on-one chit-chat on Students Speak recently the little girl who promises fireworks in her Form Four examinations looks ahead with zeal and confidence.
Answering a question about what her father who recently donated a bullock to the teachers at Rimbi High School for a job well done would donate as a teachers’ incentive at the end of her Form Four, the highly motivated Form Two girl bubbled with confidence.
“If my father gave one bullock to the teachers because my sister Sharai scooped nine points, he will give five bullocks when the results come at the end of 2018! This time he was excited . . . when I do it he will be pleasantly shocked,” boasted Chirimambowa’s daughter who says she wants to become a journalist or a medical doctor.
Two weeks ago The Manica Post carried a story which left other teachers in Chipinge District and elsewhere in the country salivating and envious. Chirimambowa unable to contain his pleasant surprise over his daughter’s attainment of 9 A-Level points in the 2013 examinations, he donated a fat bullock for her teachers. What a meaty incentive!
Sharai Chirimambowa is now at the famous MSU (Midlands State University) pursuing her first degree.
Fadzai who says English Language is her best subject promised what she described as “fireworks” in her 2016 O-Level and 2018 A-Level examinations. “Nothing less than 14 or 15 points! Watch me!” she vowed.
“Finally, I want to say greetings to Kudakwashe Mapwanya, Rebecca Nyikahadzoi and Tinotenda Nkomo, three of my best friends here at Rimbi High School. Ngatirovei chikoro vasikana nhamo inyare! Not forgetting my sister Sharai. Iri sei vhaa pa MSU mwana wa amai vangu?”
Come to think of it, Mr Panganayi Chigadziri -Chirimambowa set a wonderful example. Why fight Dokora over incentives sanctions when we can give directly to the hard-working teachers in kind and/or in cash? If parents followed Chirimambowa’s generous example and gave incentives as they see fit, to compliment the hard work done by individual teachers, all the better, in my view. The incentive goes to the deserving ones, eheka, unlike the standard-spread that used to cover even the lazy ones and incompetent ones.
This would be the best way and most peaceful way of ending the incentives war, wouldn’t it? Kana vana vapasa, why not? Vabereki ngavape varairidzi vanoshanda nesimba mombe, mbudzi . . . zvose. If parents are happy about the teachers’ performance at the schools their children go to, why not? Let them incentivise them by donating in kind and in cash. This is not Comrade Dokora’s business, is it? Those who can may even donate cars, tractors, power generators, laptops, i-pads, cell phones; depending on where they are and who they are in the Who’s Who books.
In ancient days heroes and other forms of distinguished achievers were given wives, beautiful daughters to marry. I am not suggesting that anybody provokes women- rights defenders in this civilized day and age. Not at all! I am only saying there are one hundred and one better ways of being incentivised, and ways which avoid locking horns with the honourable Minister of Education. Teachers cannot be incentivised by the money or fees the children they teach pay. That is not an incentive.
They cannot be incentivised by the employer. What the employer does must be to give benefits to the teachers in the form of loans, study leave, housing, rural, health and other allowances, the 13th cheque and of course constantly reviewing their salaries meaningfully.
Parents yes, may express their gratitude for exceptional work by occasionally giving incentives . . . whatever they can afford and deem fit . . . and no one must stop them from expressing this appreciation in whatever way. A monthly incentive defeats the purpose of an incentive.
Online Reporter