Artuz fights ban on vacation school: Equity in edu...

Artuz fights ban on vacation school: Equity in education under threat

Philemon Jambaya

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe is fuming over the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s decision to scrap “vacation school” for the upcoming April holiday.

They view this as a blatant injustice, particularly for students in rural areas preparing for crucial exams like Grade 7, Ordinary Level, and Advanced Level.

Artuz scoffs at the Ministry’s proposed alternative: utilising the online learning platform, the Zimbabwe Learning Passport. They brand it an “insult” to students trapped in the digital divide, a chasm undeniably widened by the government’s own shortcomings.

“How can they propose online learning when essential infrastructure, affordable gadgets, consistent electricity, reasonable data charges, and reliable network connectivity are all lacking?” questions Artuz, highlighting the government’s failure to bridge this critical gap.

The union’s demand is clear: reinstate vacation schools, but with a focus on education, not profit.

They vehemently criticise “ruling elites” who send their children to well-equipped private schools and exclusive learning centres, while simultaneously denying the underprivileged access to supplementary education.

“This is a deplorable act of discrimination that perpetuates an unequal society,” fumes Artuz. “The privileged enjoy every advantage, while the majority languish in educational deprivation.”

Artuz holds the Ministry accountable for neglecting the fundamental rights of Zimbabwean students. They emphasise the government’s obligation to ensure equal access to resources – proper infrastructure, affordable devices, uninterrupted electricity, and reliable internet connectivity, especially in rural regions.