Sunday News
By Lulu Brenda Harris
22nd November 2009
EFFORTS to revive the education sector in the country have received a boost from Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom who have teamed up to set up a network to mobilise resources for the sector.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Network was officially launched yesterday in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with a concert aimed at raising funds to send books to schools in Zimbabwe.
In an e-mail interview with Sunday News, one of the conveners of the network, Ms Munashe Moyo-Godo, said they have so far managed to collect a lot of books that would be donated to a number of schools in the country.
“We have been lucky to get a good response from schools in the UK, so we are raising funds to ship the books. We hope to raise enough money to ship the first consignment of text and library books we currently have. If we are able to get enough money then we will also be able to ship some computers as well,†she said.
Ms Moyo-Godo said the concert featured Zimbabwean musicians among them dub poet, Albert Nyathi, Jusa Demento, Primrose Urombo, Simbarashe Mudzingwa of Hohodza fame, Enos Deve and FOF Praise Afro Face.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Network also held a fashion show supported by the Miss Malaika Beauty Peagent.
“It was an evening of great fun as we support this worthy cause. We are also looking to start a project to roof a classroom block at the school we are currently working with,†Ms Moyo-Godo said.
Ms Moyo-Godo is a University of Zimbabwe trained teacher and teaches and marks Cambridge examinations in the UK.
Her fellow organiser, Mrs Barbara Nyagomo-Mambo is a trained nurse and businesswoman. She is Southern African’s Achievers Awards UK 2009 businesswoman of the year.
Ms Moyo-Godo said other Zimbabweans in the Diaspora have also joined them in their efforts. “We have recently been joined by two goodwill ambassadors, both young Zimbabweans passionate about improving the situation in schools in Zimbabwe,†she said.
Ms Godo-Moyo said the goodwill ambassadors would be holding events to raise funds.
“At the moment plans are also underway to begin a big fundraising project, which I am not at liberty to discuss the details of at this time. We are currently working on a business workshop scheduled for mid-2010; this will also help raise funds. We are also looking at doing appeals,†she said. Ms Moyo-Godo said besides fundraising, it would be necessary to network teachers in Zimbabwe with teachers in other parts of the world in an effort to encourage the exchange of ideas.
“The same should happen with students as well. Linking schools in Zimbabwe with schools in other parts of the world will also encourage the sharing of information. We have launched a platform, called Zimteachnet,†she said.
Ms Moyo-Godo said the Zimbabwe Teachers Network is an organisation dedicated to enabling a productive education system in disadvantaged Zimbabwean schools.
“We aim to produce a capable, innovative and self reliant future generation,†she said.
Ms Moyo-Godo said the name of the group does not limit the network to teachers as it has people who are concerned about the disadvantaged school children.
“The name Zimbabwe Teachers Network does not confine it to just teachers, it is a network of people who are concerned about the plight of Zimbabwean children and want to do something about it. The future of so many children is at stake,†said the co-ordinator.
In an interview with Sunday News, the Minister of Education, Sports, Art and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said he was aware of international organisations that wanted to help revive the education sector and encouraged such efforts.
“We (the ministry) are reliant on a wide range of donors and I encourage such establishments to play a supportive role. In principle if they are to send school equipment then I welcome that idea,†he said.
The minister said if his ministry receives adequate funding it will launch a website which will bear information of all the schools in the country. He said the website would come in handy for any organisation that might want to access information on the country’s education sector.
“The website will cover all the schools in the country and will also include a map linked to a girdle to point out the exact location of a school,†he said.