The Standard
By Jennifer Dube
3 October 2010
EDUCATION, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart says Zimbabweans must not mislead themselves into believing that the country has the highest
literacy levels in Africa.
Coltart’s surprise remarks come months after some government officials especially from Zanu PF, gave themselves a pat on the back following the
release of statistics showing Zimbabwe overtaking Tunisia as the country with the highest literacy rate on the continent at 92%.
But Coltart, a lawyer by profession, said the methodology used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coming up with the rankings was
flawed. He said the UNDP relied on figures showing attendance at school for the first four years of formal education as indicators of literacy rates but the
Grade VII results will be a more accurate indicator for Zimbabwe.
The recent study had shown that Zimbabwe’s literacy had increased from 85%Â to 92%.
“We need to analyse the basis on which such statements are made otherwise  we will relax thinking our literacy rates are very high yet they are not,”
Coltart said. “I am not convinced that the use of attendance is the best way of judging because most of our children have gone for long periods with no text books and no teachers.
“We must not think that all is well. Our literacy rates may not be as high as we think they are. We have several other indicators to consider.”
He gave an example of a recent survey among Grade V pupils in Manicaland which showed that there were “alarmingly low” rates of literacy.
Coltart said most of the pupils in the survey did not have Grade V literacy levels but had Grade I and II levels, a scenario he said most likely applied
to all provinces in this country.
“Our education system is in a crisis and we need to do a lot of work to restore the quality of education for our children’s sake,” he said.
The minister added that a number of interventions which he felt would help improve the quality of education in the country were being carried out.
Among these is the recent textbook scheme being spearheaded by the United Nations Children’s Fund in conjunction with government whereby text books
are being distributed to schools across the country.
The government has also re-engaged temporary teachers with the hope of addressing the student-teacher ratios which continued to dwindle as teachers
deserted their schools due to disgruntlement over poor remuneration and working conditions.
Coltart said the school inspections of the past were also set to return following a US$1,3 million fund allocated to the sector for the purchase of
vehicles to be used in the exercise.
About 70 vehicles will be bought for use by district education officers in monitoring schools. Among others, they will check if school heads are carrying out their administrative roles properly.They will also check if schools have the required numbers of teachers and the requisite levels of enrolment and text books.