THE Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has applauded the recently gazetted education regulations, commending the government for addressing key issues, but took exception to the clause mandating parents to fund basic education.
While acknowledging the inclusion of eight progressive policies and recommendations from its quarterly monitoring reports, Artuz said the requirement that parents must fund basic education violated section 75 of the Constitution, which guaranteed every citizen's right to State-funded basic education.
“Section 75(1) states that every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to basic State-funded education, including adult basic education and further education that the State must make available progressively through laws and other measures.
“Section 75 states that access to State-funded basic education is absolute. Progressive realisation of State funding only applies to further education not basic education. We find the gazetted regulations violating this basic right,” the union said.
Artuz also objected to the requirement for fee payment before schools open, citing the negative impact on payment plans that have kept learners in school.
“Schools have been engaging with parents on payment plans. These regulations are against the spirit of payment plans, which have kept learners in school,” the union said.
Artuz also flagged the regulations’ silence on the provision of sanitary pads for girls, a critical issue addressed in the Education Act. The union, however, applauded Primary and Secondary Education minister Torerai Moyo for addressing issues such as sexual abuse, school feeding and support for learners with disabilities and pregnant girls.
However, the union found section 12(C) inappropriate as it allows parents to withdraw pregnant girls from school, potentially denying them their right to education.
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“Parents should not be allowed to decide on whether a pregnant girl should stay in school or not. Some parents may pull girls out of school for either cultural or religious reasons. Right to
education for pregnant girls should be absolute.”
It also called for consultation and the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to education policy-making.
