Amon Murwira, the Minister of Innovation, Science, Technology Development, and Higher and Tertiary Education, has reiterated the government’s stance mandating that teachers acquire three local languages in addition to their own tongue.
Murwira said that the current policy, which was implemented in 2018, requires instructors to be fluent in three local languages by the time they graduate, according to the Chronicle. He was replying to a question from Senator Annah Shiri, a disability rights advocate, concerning government efforts to include minority languages, such as sign language, in higher education.
“We aim to have expertise in all languages,” murwira clarified. People speak Shona, IsiNdebele, Chewa, and more if you go there. We have implemented unique language programs at Mutare Teachers’ College and the United College of Education in Bulawayo. We are pleading with senators and members of parliament to keep contributing money to this endeavor. We have to leave behind a legacy of harmony and cultural assets.”
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Senator Rebecca Fanuel of Matabeleland North brought attention to the problem of non-Tonga speaking instructors being sent to Binga, which is causing low pass rates, particularly in elementary schools. “The President stressed that no one should be left behind, but in Binga, we are still falling behind,” the woman stated. Because the employed teachers are unable to write or speak Tonga, primary school students are not performing well. Although it is appreciated that some local instructors are now employed, why do most teachers in Binga come from neighboring provinces? What steps is the government doing to hire Binga teachers?
“The policy of having teachers who can speak the language of the child is active, and we are implementing it,” Murwira reassured in response. We established Hwange Teachers’ College in 2019 and enrolled 150 Nambya- and Tonga-speaking Hwange natives. Although the pace of implementation needs to be accelerated, the policy is clear, and we will keep going in the correct direction.”
