Bubi villagers decry pass rate

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SIGANDA villagers in the Bubi district of Matabeleland North have attributed the low pass rate at both primary and secondary schools in their area on recruitment of teachers from other regions who are not familiar with the local language.

SIGANDA villagers in the Bubi district of Matabeleland North have attributed the low pass rate at both primary and secondary schools in their area on recruitment of teachers from other regions who are not familiar with the local language.

NQOBILE BHEBHE CHIEF REPORTER Councillor for Ward 7 Elliot Gwayi told Southern Eye in Siganda yesterday that the continuous low pass rate was unsettling. “Pass rates have been very low in the past few years and the trend continues,” he said.

“From what we hear from parents, they attribute this to teachers who are not from the region.

“They say the teachers are failing to connect with pupils in class. Parents say they prefer teachers from this region.”

Gwayi said children were willing to learn, but those who failed struggled to supplement and ended up “being lost in the community”.

He appealed to the government to build tertiary institutions to absorb school leavers. Most schools in the region registered a low pass rate.

A villager Thamsanqa Khabo concurred with the councillor.

“At one school (name supplied) we have nine teachers and the headmaster is not from the region and parents are not happy,” he said.

“Villagers have the power to change the set-up if they are organised and approach relevant authorities.

“Learners are failing dismally. Those teachers are not keen to teach; all they want is to get incentives.

“Education officers say they are struggling to get trained teachers from here.”

Meanwhile, Gwayi said few villagers managed to get meaningful harvests as the crops were affected by incessant rains.

“Hunger is looming here,” he said. “The rains destroyed a huge hectarage leaving only a few people who managed to see their crop mature. This will require council to seek assistance.”