Unqualified teachers worry education minister Dr Dokora flanked by ZIMTA national president Richard Gundani (left) and chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu as they follow proceedings during an annual conference held in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Innocent Makawa
Dr Dokora flanked by ZIMTA national president  Richard Gundani (left) and chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu  as they follow proceedings during an annual conference held in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Innocent Makawa

Dr Dokora flanked by ZIMTA national president Richard Gundani (left) and chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu as they follow proceedings during an annual conference held in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Innocent Makawa

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora has proposed the creation of a board to monitor the education sector saying unqualified persons were flooding the profession compromising standards.

Dr Dokora made the remarks yesterday addressing teachers attending the Zimbabwe Teachers Association annual general conference in Harare.

“It is only in the education sector where anyone can call himself a teacher. Anybody can walk into our sector and start demanding rights. Some people are just helping us in the sector. We have some people with degrees in archaeology teaching in the Early Childhood Development,” he said.

Dr Dokora said there was need to capacitate teachers.

“When I started speaking about teacher capacity development, people were saying I wanted to fire people without education studies. What about the effect these people have on children? I cannot inject a patient in a hospital because I am not a nurse and not qualified,” he said.

Dr Dokora said education was delicate and required qualified teachers.

“We have some people with degrees in archaeology teaching in the Early Childhood Development. I will be happy if we can appoint a board to superintend standards as is done in other sectors such as the health sector which has a Health Services Board,” he said.

Dr Dokora said the creation of the board would revolutionise the education sector.

“This is not a journey for the faint hearted but we must assume our full responsibility as a profession,” he said.

Zimta national president Mr Richard Gundane criticised lack of supervision especially in some private schools.

He claimed people running private educational institutions were driven by the desire to make huge profits than providing an essential service.

“There has been a mushrooming of private colleges and schools in most residential areas.

“Most of the people who run the institutions are business people who have just invaded the education sector to make huge profits. Education should remain a public good,” he said.

The Zimta conference started on Friday and ends today.

The conference debated a number of issues among them curriculum review, the impact of e-learning and the fate of teachers struck off the payroll.

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