Poor pass rate a tip of the iceberg

YOUR story in the NewsDay edition of February 24 headlined Poor pass rate: Govt shifts blame made sad reading and at the same time left me rolling on the floor with laughter.

In the story, Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema is quoted blaming the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) 2020 Grade Seven poor pass rate on sanctions.

“Having said that, we also need support from the international community in education as well, but as long as there are sanctions, we will have a big problem. We already have a challenge because of the economic sanctions that were imposed on our country,” Mathema said. Phew!

Since time immemorial, parents, teachers’ unions and civic society organisations have been raising red flags, accusing the government of neglecting the education sector.

These poor results will continue as the order of the day until the government has changed its approach, especially in terms of funding.

However, the poor pass rates are symptomatic of the rot that is bedevilling most sectors of Zimbabwe's economy.

This is what happens when a Cabinet is made up of incompetent people and is run by a regime that loots public funds and fails to pay teachers due to corruption.

They will always find scapegoats for their own failures.

Very soon we will hear them blaming climate change on sanctions. Zanu PF will always be Zanu PF!