Teacher absenteeism alarming Binga schools not bad after all
ABOUT two teachers in every school are absent from work each day for various reasons which is affecting the performance of pupils, an audit report has revealed.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Mangwe National Assembly Member Cde Obedingwa Mguni said according to a report from national AuditorGeneral absenteeism by teachers was affecting the IT is said some schools in Binga and other parts of Matabeleland North are now being run by traditional leaders such as headmen and volunteers because qualified teachers are shunning the district citing poor conditions.
However, if results of public examinations for last year are any barometer of the educational standards in Binga, then the Government can as well just employ the headmen as they are doing a good job compared to schools manned by qualified teachers as evidenced through a report issued recently during the Matabeleland North’s Better Schools Programme of Zimbabwe Merit Awards.
At Grade Seven, Binga had the highest number of schools, four to be precise, which had at least a pupil with four units at last year’s public examinations. The schools were Binga, Bunsiwa, Mulindi and Manjolo. This was far much better than schools in Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza.
And that was not the only achievement at Grade Seven level. Two schools from the district, Lusuli and Kajijima recorded 100 percent pass rate in SiNdebele. This means that all the candidates who
pass rate.
Speaking during a meeting with headmasters from schools in his constituency, Cde Mguni said a survey he conducted in schools within his area had shown that some teachers were absconding work to pursue personal businesses.
“It is alarming to learn that some teachers abscond from work to spend their working hours drinking at bottlestores as I have received such reports. Parents part with a lot of money to ensure their children get decent education and school authorities are expected to deliver. A report by the Auditor-General which was compiled after a survey in schools across the sat for the SiNdebele paper at the two schools passed the subject.
At Ordinary Level, Binga High School also did well competing with other highly fancied schools in the province.
The school recorded 100 pass rate in Religious Studies, Woodwork and an 83 percent pass rate in the prestigious Physical Science.
Sinsundu Secondary also recorded an 80 percent pass rate in SiNdebele. Pupils in Binga also showed that they understand better the rich culture and heritage of this country when the district contributed six of the 15 schools that topped in the History subject in the whole of Matabeleland North Province. Siansundu, Tinde, Muchesu, Siabuwa, Chinego and Mupande all had more than 60 percent pass rate in History.
Schools in Binga were also among the best performers in Religious Studies providing three among the top. In Biology two Binga schools were listed as among the best while in Principles of Accounts it had three.
In Economics, there were only three schools in the province which recorded a 60 percent and above pass rate and two of them Manjolo and Kariyangwe
country has shown that about two teachers are absent from school each day. This needs to stop as it affects the pass rate,” he said.
Cde Mguni said some pupils were performing badly in school because of teacher’s absenteeism. He said there was a need for education authorities to closely monitor the performance of their employees especially in rural schools and remote schools.
He said teachers and other school officials were expected to be role models of learners. Cde Mguni urged schools to incorporate practical subjects and to mobilise resources to ensure that fully equipped laboratories were built. are from Binga. The district, despite being classified as dry, last year produced one of the best results in Agriculture.
A total of 17 schools form the province recorded 60 percent and above in the subject with Manjolo and Mabuwa acing 100 percent.
Eleven pupils from Binga also managed to score at least five As at Ordinary Level resulting in the district providing the bulk of top performers under best students (day Schools) at Ordinary Level category. The purple patch for Binga schools continued at A-level with three schools in Binga recording a 100 percent pass rate in Literature in English while five schools recorded 100 percent in History.
The problem of teachers has been a major handicap especially after the Government banned the recruitment of temporary teachers. Latest statistics from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education show that Binga district needs 71 substantive heads. Educationists have been calling on the Government to quickly address the situation and from the results so far, it shows that Binga District can become a centre of producing the best pupils if it is doing such a sterling job even if the odds are against the area.
“As schools you can engage members of local business community and diasporians to invest in your schools through supplying lab materials and resources for practical subjects. You can also engage several Government departments such as Agritex, Public Works and Livestock departments to help in training pupils in their respective field,” he said.
He also urged teachers to develop their skills and training so as to impart quality knowledge to pupils. Parents with children learning at a school in Mangwe District last year complained of teachers that were boycotting lessons to spend time drinking at local bottle stores in full view of pupils.