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By Honourable Malvin Tinei Kawadza
“To create a child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa”
As the theme clearly spelled out at the Day Of The African child celebrations held belatedly on 21 June 2014 at Parliament Building in Harare, as a continent we need an overhaul of how education is viewed.
As I commit pen to paper as far as the 22nd session of the junior parliament is concerned, the above system can become a reality.
As deliberated by the junior MPs last Saturday in the presence of His Excellency Cde R.G Mugabe and other senior cabinet ministers, the basic ideals lacking from our education system is the child friendly and quality aspect.
Shortage of relevant textbooks in primary schools, shortage of adequately qualified teachers and schools which are located far away from settlements were the issues brought out. All schools should have a library, sports fields, appropriate and adequate furniture, stationery and sufficient standards of sanitation facilities.
Those from the rural areas highlighted that the non-availability of electricity and e-learning facilities are denying them the quality education they deserve.
The representatives of the children of Zimbabwe urged the senior government to re-introduce the policy of the 80s when primary education was totally free.
Honourable Ruvimbo Zambuko from Kuwadzana East constituency laid it out in a question: “If it was done then, why not now?”
In his address, His Excellency the Child President Nhlanhla Moyo acommended the Government for the textbooks distributed under the Education Transition Fund.
From all over Zimbabwe students bore evidence that these textbooks have improved the qualitative aspect of the Zimbabwean education.
In as much as the term of office officially began last Saturday ,I would like to remind my fellow Honourables that as Junior Parliamentarians we are the voice of the voiceless, an assegai for the defenceless, a shield for the vulnerable, but most of all, we are a mirror which reflects the lives of each and every child in Zimbabwe.
Let us not forget our mandate as voluntary servants of the State until we make the above idea a reality.
The writer is the Junior Member of Parliament for Marondera East. He is currently in Lower 6 at Bernard Mizeki College and former Cool Lifestyle columnist.
Online Reporter