Zimbabwean
By Tony Saxon
28 July 2011
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart has expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating standards of the country’s education system.
Speaking after a tour of schools in Masvingo last week Coltart said there was need to revamp the country’s education system and restore Zimbabwe’s status as a leading education provider.
“As government there is great need to improve the working conditions of teachers in a bid to revamp the education system whose standards are slowly deteriorating due to shortage of personnel and resources,†said Coltart.
He said his ministry was working hard to restore the education system to the standard it once was.
“There is a strategic plan of action in place that is going to help to restore the education system in the country and this prioritizes the welfare of the teachers. We are also intending to provide primary and secondary schools with text books,†he said.
The education minister added that they were finalizing with UNICEF the contracts that will assist in the provision of the text books on a one-to-one ratio.
He revealed that the ministry would also initiate the provision of clean safe drinking water and build ablutions at various schools. Coltart said the ministry had embarked on a computerization programme that would see most schools getting computers.