Sunday News 

By Vusumuzi Dube

3 March 2013

Government has recruited over 22 000 unqualified temporary teachers in a bid to solve the critical shortage of teachers in the country, a situation that is impacting negatively on the overall performance within the education sector.

This comes in the backdrop of a very low pass rate recorded in the last years Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary and Advanced Level pass rate.

In an interview with Sunday News on Friday, Education, Sports, and Culture Minister, Senator David Coltart, said the number of unqualified teachers in the system was a cause for concern especially considering that teacher training institutions were failing to meet the demand for teachers in the country.

He said well teacher training institutions were releasing an average of 6000 teachers the problem was that over 75 percent of these did not make into the industry as they immediately left the country in pursuit of greener pastures. “The number of unqualified temporary teachers in the country is very worrying, right now we have over 22 000 unqualified teachers within the system, the most affected areas being in the rural areas where most of the qualified teachers shun teaching in these areas but opt for urban centers.”

“I must admit that we are battling to get qualified personnel for us to at least offer quality services in our schools but this is frustrating by the fact that while 6000 teachers graduate at our teacher training schools over 75 pecent of these do not even make it to the schools,” said Minister Coltart.

The Minister said one of the few ways to address this problem was to train the unqualified temporary teachers themselves to ensure that they at least know the basics of educations and further ensure that students were not let down by the unqualified personnel.

He said the most affected areas were in Maths and Science subjects.

News Day

1 March 2013

THE newly appointed Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) board met with Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister Senator David Coltart yesterday where it was presented with its mandate for the three years that it will be in office.

Six principal policy objectives and goals for the incoming board were identified, chief among them, the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa Zone VI Youth Games which Zimbabwe will host next year. The other objectives include the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) Hockey World Series; an action plan for 2016 Olympics and Paralympics improvement of administration of national sports associations and government policy on strategic sports and the integration of sport to Zimbabwe’s education curriculum. In a statement yesterday, Coltart said the SRC board’s immediate task was to appoint the games’ local organising committee and the games’ chief executive officer as soon as possible.

The Herald

1 March 2013

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart has come under fire from teachers for barring them from participating in the referendum set for March 16. Teachers yesterday described Minister Coltart as arrogant and insensitive to the plight of the restive educators.

Minister Coltart said teachers should not participate in the referendum as polling officers because that would disturb the learning process as the educators would leave classes for some days.

He argued that Government should look for manpower from other civil service departments adding that his ministry would present its request to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission soon.

The referendum will be held on a Saturday and teachers usually constitute the bulk of civil servants that are used as polling officers during voting processes.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said participating in national events was a privilege for civil servants as they were paid extra allowances.

He said teachers would participate in the referendum to augment their low income. “Minister Coltart should not make such a sweeping statement because that extra dollar that comes our way from participating in that process counts,” he said.

“No one, including Coltart, should take away that privilege and moreover these should be personal decisions that have got nothing to do with the administrator.

“For him to bar us sounds unfair and most people might have enrolled or have indicated that they will take part in the process and no one should refuse them that opportunity.”

The lowest paid teacher is getting US$296 in a country the poverty datum line is over US$600.
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo said Minister Coltart wanted teachers to continue suffering.
“He should be pushing to ensure we get a decent salaries instead of being insensitive,” he said.

“His message is that teachers should continue suffering and he is missing a point because teachers should not remain in those classes on empty stomachs.”

Minister Coltart said the week the referendum would never improve the country’s pass rates, which dropped significantly this year.
“What we need is food on the table and this will be the time to get something on the referendum,” he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said teachers should be allowed to make independence decisions.

“This is a national event and although he is making his suggestions as an administrator he should know that teachers are an important group when it comes to such events,” Mr  Majongwe said.

The Herald

By Takudzwa Chitsiga

1 March 2013

THREE World Boxing Union-sanctioned matches pitting Zimbabweans against two Zambians and a Ghanaian have now been confirmed.
The fights will take place on June 29 in Harare, the WBU confirmed. Monalisa

Sibanda will take on WBU female world welterweight champion, Gift Amanua Ankrah of Ghana, while the other match will be a WBU junior lightweight world title fight between Felix Venganayi of Zimbabwe and Tom Chisanga of Zambia.

The third match will be a WBU light heavyweight world title showdown between Zimbabwe’s Wesley Mcdade and Sam Chisanga of Zambia.
Preparations for the bouts are gathering momentum as the Deltaforce Sports Trust, who manage the three local boxers, met with the new boxing board chairman, Paul Nenjerama, yesterday to discuss several issues.

David Musonda, Delta Force Sports Trust chairman, said they wanted to know when the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board could license them to allow the boxers to take part in the events.

“We are looking forward to hosting a big event but our problem is that there are no boxers and promoters licences yet,” said Musonda.
“The new chairman is still awaiting for a hand-over from the former board, which was led by Richard Hondo, so we sought audience with him and we are happy with the response we got from him. The chairman took our concerns into consideration and he knows that it is a great privilege to host such a high-profile event and we can not let the opportunity slip away. For us to host the event, we need clearance from the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board.”

Musonda also feels boxing should be considered when the funds allocated to sport are given out by the Government. “The ministry should ensure that we have a budget reserved for boxing so that the new board can have somewhere to start from. There was no secretariat for the past 31 years and we look forward to having some improvements for the sport from the new board,” said Musonda. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart appointed the new boxing board in January.

News Day

By Nduduzo Tshuma

28 February 

POLICE have to effectively deal with allegations of tribalism leveled against their officers or risk losing the “little” credibility the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)  still has, according to analysts.

The comments made yesterday followed reports that Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda had filed a complaint with police bosses over the alleged tribal abuse of her employee at a bottle store in Ntabazinduna by three police officers based in Mbembesi.

The three police officers reportedly visited the bottle store for drinks and accused the bar lady of only playing Ndebele music.

The officers allegedly went on to hurl unprintable insults at the bar lady, saying she was not educated.

Advocacy group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) last December also accused a group of police officers from Bulawayo of forcing them to speak in Shona.

The police officers allegedly told the women that “all Ndebeles were killed during Gukurahundi”.

Analysts warned that the complaints were potentially damaging and could spark hostilities against the ZRP.

“If the police do not do anything to the satisfaction of the people, it means that the people will lose the little confidence and credibility that they are left with,” said Dumisani Nkomo, a political analyst. “If the situation is not handled properly, people will take matters in their own hands.”

Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association co-ordinator Rodrick Fayayo said the issue had always been a burning one to residents.

“The residents no longer have confidence in the system. That is why we are advocating for all languages to be accorded the status of official languages in the new constitution,” he said. “This is a ticking time bomb where people will end up taking matters into their own hands.”

Another political analyst, Effie Ncube, echoed similar sentiments, saying failure by the police to deal with such issues on time would result in the people losing trust in the ZRP.

“The issue reflects that we have a big problem in the political leadership,” he said.

“They have been silent on these contestations around tribal issues. An example is that of a Zanu PF legislator who demanded that (Education minister) David Coltart speaks in Shona (in Parliament). The leadership should be able to live beyond tribal contestations.”

The Zimbabwean

By Mxolisi Ncube

28 February 2013

David Coltart, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, recently spelt out the six-point 2013 mandate of the recently appointed Sports and  Recreation Board.

The principal policy objectives and goals of the Board include organising Zone VI Youth Games, the Hockey World Series of February 2014, mapping an action plan for 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, coming up with new sport regulations and the tightening of discipline and improvement of administration of NSAs.

It is also tasked with mapping government policy on strategic sports and the integration of Sport to Zimbabwe’s Education curriculum

Zimbabwe will host the Zone VI Youth Games in December 2014 and the immediate task of the board is to appoint an Organising Committee and a CEO and make the decision on whether Bulawayo or Harare should be the host city.

“I am dissatisfied with the comparative analysis and costings done in this regard to date and urgent further work needs to be done,” said Coltart, who is also the Senator for Bulawayo South.

“Once the host city has been chosen, the various venues will need to be refurbished and it is imperative that this work be commenced in 2013 and completed well before the start of the games. It goes without saying that this is the greatest sporting event Zimbabwe has hosted since the All Africa Games in 1995 and it is imperative that it be well organised.”

Zimbabwe will also host one of the Hockey World Series Tournament in February 2014, subject to its preparedness to rehabilitate Harare’s Magamba Hockey Stadium in Harare.

The Minister of Finance has since confirmed that Government would provide the funds.

The SRC was also tasked with urgently developing a strategic plan in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee with regards to the Olympics, which should include the early identification of potential medal winners and the mobilisation of support for them and their respective associations.

The Board needs to be more proactive in enforcing a higher standard of administration and financial accountability in all National Sports Associations.

“Whilst Government is committed to respecting the right of all Zimbabweans to promote and develop all sporting disciplines, Government itself needs to be more strategic in identifying and supporting those sporting disciplines which Zimbabwe has a comparative advantage in, and which can assist in creating jobs and generating wealth,” added Senator Coltart.

“We increasingly need to recognise that ‘sport is business’ and strategically direct Government and Corporate sector support for certain sports. Accordingly the SRC needs to advise Government on say 10 key sporting disciplines which we need to focus on it particular. Tied to this is the development of a strategic plan to invest in these disciplines with a view to contributing to Zimbabwe’s GDP.”

Implementation of the recommendations made by the Nziramasanga Commission regarding the development of a more vocationally-oriented curriculum was also identified key component of sports development.

“Closely tied to this is the need to recognise that sport needs to be part of a vocationally oriented curriculum. Key, strategically targeted, sports must be taught in schools not on the periphery but as an integral and fundamental part of the curriculum. In this regard the SRC needs to take an active part in the review and reform of the curriculum.”

New Zimbabwe

28 February 2013

TEACHERS’ unions have slammed Education Minister David Coltart’s move to block them from working in next month’s referendum saying their members should be allowed to make extra cash since the government refuses to pay them a living wage.

Zimbabwe holds a constitutional referendum on March 16 and teachers, who make up the bulk of the state’s estimated 230,000 employees, have traditionally worked as polling officers during national votes.

But Coltart was quoted by the Herald Wednesday saying he would seek to block teachers from taking part in the referendum arguing this would disrupt learning around the country.

On Thursday the minister, however, said the publication misrepresented the ministry’s position over the issue.

“At no time did either I or any member of my staff state that there would be a total ban on teachers participating in the referendum. What we have said is that there should be minimal disruption of the education sector and to that extent qualified teachers should only be used as a last resort to ensure that as many of them as possible remain as long as possible at their posts in their classrooms,” the minister said in a statement.

“We cannot afford the remainder of the term being disrupted with thousands of qualified teachers leaving their posts to be trained. The recently released O Level results are a reminder that the education sector remains in crisis and children’s education remains under threat. Accordingly it is in our national interest not to disturb their education any more as far as possible.”

Still, teachers’ unions said the ministry should have consulted them first and insisted that their members could not be stopped from taking part in national events.

“The minister should not stop teachers from participating in a national event as that would create a feeling of exclusion,” said Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu.

 “To say the referendum would disrupt the learning process is a flimsy excuse because we have always participated in national events and teachers have made contingency measures for the time lost.

“What the minister says is not plausible at all. Some educators want to take part in this exercise to get some pennies. This is a once off opportunity for teachers to make extra cash especially in this difficult economic situation.”

Statement by David Coltart

28 February 2013

Regrettably the Herald has distorted the Ministry of Education’s policy  and what I said regarding deployment of teachers during the referendum by publishing a wholly misleading headline today. At no time did either I or any member of my staff state that there would be a total ban on teachers participating in the Referendum. What we have said is that there should be minimal dispruption of the education sector and to that extent qualified teachers should only be used as a last resort to ensure that as many of them as possible remain as long as possible at their posts in their classrooms.

In a letter released by Permanent Secretary Mrs Constance Chigwamba on the 25th February 2013 our policy position is stated clearly and I quote:

“MOESAC will only be able to release members for the referendum to meet the requirements of ZEC at provincial and District levels. It is important that Education service delivery is not compromised and as such a staggered approach to the release of education personnel should be adopted to minimise impact on teaching and learning. In this regard releases should start with non teaching staff ending with teaching staff for the voting process. In the interest of service delivery the Ministry should be operational during the period under consideration. This implies that there should be minimal disruption to lessons.”

We cannot afford the remainder of the term being disrupted with thousands of qualified teachers leaving their posts to be trained. The recently released O level results are a reminder that the education sector remains in crisis and children’s education remains under threat. Accordingly it is in our national interest not to disturb their education any more as far as possible.

We recognise that it may be inevitable that some teachers will have to utilised but our plea is that civil servants be drawn from other Ministries first, that we utilise non teaching staff from MOSEAC second, that we utilise unqualified teaching staff third, and that we only draw down on qualified teaching staff as a last resort.

I hope that the Herald will set the record straight.

Senator David Coltart
Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture
28th February 2013

Daily News

By Nyasha Chingono 

27 February 2013

Zimbabwe’s “exaggerated” literacy rate by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has caused complacency leading to lower pass rates and standards in schools, minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart has said.

Speaking during a book launch at the Bulawayo Art Gallery recently, Coltart said his ministry had been in denial mode regarding dropping standards, which have resulted in a string of poor results, but had been jolted to face
the reality.

“UNDP released statics a few years ago that Zimbabwe had the highest literacy rate in Africa and that was a disservice to us. I think it lulled us into a sense of false security regarding the state of our education,” Coltart said.

Coltart said he has been criticised for questioning the sincerity of the results since the UNDP based performance on a pupil’s first four years in school without taking cognisance of other years spent at school.

Data presented to him by educational officers in every province does not tally with that of UNDP, spelling serious problems in the troubled sector,
he said.

“The (then) provincial education director for Manicaland Peter Muzawazi did a study of Grade Five children and was horrified by the results. He established that the average literacy level of Grade Five children was actually that of Grade One or Two,” Coltart said.

Zimbabwe, according to the UNDP, has the highest literacy rate in Africa. The much touted literacy rate has somewhat not translated into good results for school going pupils ,where the 2013 Ordinary level results revealed that the ‘O’ Levels pass rate dropped from 19,5 percent to 18,4 percent, while the ‘A’ Level rate rose from 67,21 percent in 2012 to 82.09 percent.

News Day

By Nduduzo Tshuma

26 February 2013

MDC secretary for legal affairs David Coltart has commended Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s weekend calls for an end to political violence and selective application of the law.

Mujuru was speaking at the burial of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, John Mayowe, at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Saturday.

Mayowe died in South Africa last week after a battle with cancer.
Coltart, who is also Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister, said there was need for the country to deal with all forms of violence.

“Whilst I am thankful for Zimbabwean Vice-President Mujuru’s call yesterday for a violence-free referendum and election, we must recognise that violence comes in many forms, not simply in the narrow physical definition of the word,” the minister wrote on his Facebook wall.

“Violence is not just the physical act.When law is used selectively as a weapon to imprison civic leaders, that also constitutes violence. The mere threat of violence can be just as chilling as the physical act. The unlawful detention of a person is a mental threat of violence.”