InfoAnda - Private schools sprout in Zimbabwe as public system struggles

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Oil lapping ashore on Louisiana island: official | 7 May 2010
'American Idol' drills down to 9 contestants | 27 March 2009
China stresses dialogue, negotiation on Iran | 10 June 2010

Metallica rocks Hall of Fame | Entertainment | | 5 April 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Private schools sprout in Zimbabwe as public system struggles

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Private schools sprout in Zimbabwe as public system struggles AFP - Monday, February 8 Send IM Story Print VIDEO - Things have improved in Zimbabwe since the formation of the unity government a year ago, but even the most basic infrastructure and government services suffer from a dire lack of resources. Schools have it particularly tough -- with up to 50 children per class, and one book shared between 20 -- and some parents are turning to a growing number of private schools. Duration: 02:24. HARARE (AFP) - – "No disruption to learning" touts a newspaper ad for a new private Zimbabwean school, one of many springing up in living rooms, backyards and plots across Harare. It's a big selling point in a country where government schools lost an estimated 20,000 teachers in 2008, a year when students attended class only 50 days. Teachers launched a new strike on Friday, raising worries about the new school year that began just last month. Zimbabwe's crisis in education eased last year with the creation of a unity government between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. That ended Zimbabwe's economic freefall and halted the political unrest that saw nationwide attacks mainly against the premier's supporters. But government schools still struggle with up to 50 students in a class and 20 children sharing a book. Cashing in on the situation, new private schools run by individuals, families and organisations are sprouting across the country, often inside homes, in yards and in plots designated by the municipalities, offering an alternative to parents. On pamphlets and flyers, in newspapers and on radio and television, advertisements promising anything from one-on-one tuition, free textbooks and transport, to a Christian environment, have become a familiar feature. Education Minister David Coltart said the government realises that it does not have the resources to provide the schooling that was once the envy of Africa and made Zimbabwe the most literate country on the continent. "Our policy is, we recognise that we cannot hope to cater for the entire education of all Zimbabwean children as the government," he told AFP. "There is no doubt that the government has not been able to allocate sufficient money to education to be able to provide the educational service it has in the past." "What's of concern is that there is the establishment of schools that have not obtained the authority to operate and the danger of that development is standards will not be met." Government inspectors tasked with monitoring schools don't have access to transportation to visit all the new facilities, which in some cases are simply homes converted to schools, but without extra toilets or other amenities. "It has its good and bad sides," said Lovemore Kadenge, a parent whose child attends one of the new schools in an upmarket suburb. "The mushrooming of private schools is a good idea. If we have many of them, there is competition, standards are improved and children have good education," he told AFP. "But there is a downside to it. It depends whether the government is monitoring the activities of these private schools. There should be a system in place to ensure the safety of the children." At the height of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation in 2008, when prices rose several times a day and the local currency became worthless, qualified and experienced teachers left to seek better-paid jobs in neighbouring South Africa or Botswana, or as far away as Britain and Australia. Often they found work doing manual labour better paid than teaching. Those who remained practised what they termed "remote control teaching", where they left their class under the charge of a pupil or student teacher while selling sweets on the roadside to supplement their pay. Even government schools charge fees, frustrating many parents who say they see little result for their money. "There is an admission that in the public school system there are problems, hence they are registering more players in the education sector, some of them charging slightly above government rates," Wellington Koke, who runs a private school in central Harare, told AFP. With a total enrollment of 50, Koke say his school will insist on small classes unlike government schools where a teacher can have a class of 50 pupils. His school is a refurbished home. "We have always had this idea of having well-paying pupils who are well-serviced," Koke said. After government abandoned the local currency one year ago, teachers and other civil servants began receiving a flat salary of 150 US dollars a month -- which was a significant improvement but still too little to make ends meet. Teachers and civil servants are clamouring for raises, sparking fears among parents that their children could lose another year in the classroom to strike action. But Coltart worries that the new schools are springing up so quickly that parents have no way of knowing that basic standards are being met. "In principle I am not against the proliferation of private schools," he said. "So long as they are within the laws of Zimbabwe and certain standards are met in terms of the state of the buildings and that there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that we don't have paedophiles teaching at these schools." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Berlin film fest looks back at 60 years of scandal AFP - 34 minutes ago US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 41 minutes ago The Who perform hits medley at Super Bowl halftime Reuters - 41 minutes ago Townshend, Daltrey are still The Who at Super Bowl AP - Monday, February 8 NBC considers lifting Emmys tape delay Reuters - Monday, February 8 News Search Top Stories Saints go marching in with Super Bowl win over Colts Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds Poor weather delays US shuttle launch Britain's Mandelson attacks EU on banking reform US shuttle Endeavour launch delayed More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended G7 preoccupied with eurozone debt, China 'bubble' JPMorgan's chief reaps 16-million-dollar bonus Jackson doctor to be charged Monday: prosecutors Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds Mixed report shows US loses 20,000 jobs, unemployment dips More Most Viewed » Fury heats up after new AIG bonuses More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 8 February 2010
Actor in Israel's Oscar nominated movie detained
Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds
Lebanon recovers crashed Ethiopian jet's black box
Taliban, NATO prepare for big Helmand offensive |
Afghan assault to send 'strong signal': McChrystal
Iran tests radar-evading aircraft says commander |
Iraq delays parliament debate on candidates row
Ukraine Tymoshenko's team cries foul before polls close |
Israeli forces arrest two foreigners in West Bank
Afghan leader eyes return to conscript army
Iran leader orders new step in nuclear program
NATO chief seeks broader ties with China, India
An engineering marvel takes shape near Hoover Dam
Fifth victim identified in fatal RI fire
Officials: Some die in Conn. power plant explosion
Battle to electrify Kandahar shows Afghan dilemma
Researchers target whales in herring loss study
Hundreds flee south Afghan town ahead of offensive
Gibbons to deliver emergency State of State
Pakistanis doubt Taliban chiefs in Baluchistan
Al-Qaeda threat to US greater than Iran: Clinton
Afghanistan's NATO head: Military push needs gov't
US faces `serious and significant' cyberthreats
China 'jails porn website operator for 13 years'
Obama adviser: Stop criticizing anti-terror effort
Pakistani military seizes Taliban stronghold in NW
Authorities: 2 planes collide in Colorado; 3 die
India flight delayed after tip alleges terror
Obama adviser confident in Super Bowl security
Sri Lanka army denies plan to arrest former chief
Television executive shot to death in Nepal
Toyota loses some luster in hometown over recalls
Avatar loses box office crown to Dear John |
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Avatar" dethroned at box office by "Dear John"
'Dear John' bumps 'Avatar' with $32.4M debut
Rihanna's celebrates, BEPs party late
Florez and his 9 high C's return to Met Opera
All eyes on Ellen in "American Idol" judge debut
Iraq MPs to meet over 'Saddam' candidates row
ETA seeking to move bomb-making to Portugal: Madrid
China shuts down largest hacker training website
Opposition's Yanukovich claims win in Ukraine poll |
Saints go marching in with Super Bowl win over Colts
Defiant Iran set to begin higher enrichment of uranium
French police evacuate migrants' shelter
China seizes more melamine-tainted milk powder |
PayPal temporarily suspends some India services
Yanukovich set to win Ukraine presidency: exit polls
Iran ratchets up atom work despite sanctions threat
US faces 'serious' cyberspace threats: advisor
Haiti protesters denounce aid corruption, hoarding |
Israeli forces detain pro-Palestinian activists
Internet down in Iran ahead of demos
Argentine ex-Pres Kirchner has emergency surgery |
Iran leader orders new step in nuclear program
Iran plans 10 new enrichment plants in 2010/11 |
Envoys go to North Korea for nuclear talks push |
Costa Rica elects Chinchilla first woman president |
High-profile U.S. case tests Haitian justice system |
Iran tests radar-evading aircraft
NASA fuels space shuttle 2nd time, clouds back
NKorea threatens South amid push to restart talks
CIT names ex-Merrill CEO Thain as chairman, CEO
Activists want fair trial in Japan whaling case
China finds 170 more tons of tainted milk powder
CAPITAL CULTURE: First lady tackling child obesity
IBM begins Power server upgrade to battle HP, Sun |
Taiwan firm on China ties after US arms deal
Cops attack homegrown gang in Calif heartland
NetEase suspends new user registration for hit game |
Obama hasn't ruled out NY trial for 9/11 planner
Cowboy theme at American base in Afghanistan
China shuts down largest hacker training website |
NY Gov. Paterson meets with lawmakers over future
Amazon reshelves Macmillan titles but not e-books |
Obama in Super Bowl health care gambit
Singapore rite looks painful, yet smiles abound
Malaysia: Anwar wants sodomy trial judge removed
'Historic' snow strands countless in Mid-Atlantic
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
AP NewsAlert
2,000 hit by Papua cholera outbreak: WHO
Eight Vietnamese reported drowned
Kirin, Suntory scrap plans to combine
Pakistan stocks up; volume low after Friday bombs
Disgraced Lee returns to Olympics fold
JAL to stay with American Airlines: reports
PAKISTAN
Japan's Kirin terminates merger talks with Suntory
Seoul shares close lower on banks, Kumho issues
S.Korea KDIC to offer shares in Korea Life via IPO
Taiwan dollar rebounds sharply
S.Korea bonds steady ahead of auctions
South Africans celebrate Mandela, worry about future
Townshend, Daltrey are still The Who at Super Bowl
NBC considers lifting Emmys tape delay
Daughtry brings Saints, Colts fans together
The Who perform hits medley at Super Bowl halftime |
"Valentine's Day" a date to forget
Cockfighting survives Haiti's earthquake devastation
France vaunts '40 virtues' of Armagnac
Private schools sprout in Zimbabwe as public system struggles
'Dear John' dethrones box office king 'Avatar'
Valentine's Day a date to forget |
Iran plans major nuclear expansion over next year |
Riding green wave, Philips says "let there be LED"
NetEase suspends new user registration for hit game
Iran plans major nuclear expansion over next year
U.S. and EU fear fresh government crackdown in Iran |
Iran's leader vows to thwart protests this week
Yemen's al Qaeda calls for jihad in region: report |
Israeli police raid Palestinian refugee camp |
Saudi rights commission seeks divorce for child bride
Fifteen Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir avalanche |
Iran launches production lines for unmanned planes
Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
China patents surge in 2009 as U.S. filings plunge |
Iran plans 10 new enrichment plants in 2010/11
UK Afghan death toll matches Falklands loss |
Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader to hit stores |
US shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station
Disney, Google eye stake in China bus media firm |
Bomb hits trucks carrying Thai soldiers; 7 wounded
Failed job seekers add to homeless problem in ND
Taiwan court extends ex-leader's custody
Charlie and Brooke Sheen due in court Monday
Tainted milk powder still on sale in China: report
Internet prompts the publishing itch in over-60s |
China bus with 43 aboard plunges down valley: report
Riding green wave, Philips says let there be LED |
Body found in airplane wheel well at Tokyo airport
5 men, 1 woman aboard shuttle Endeavour
Vodafone Enterprise signs 4-year Oracle deal |
Sri Lanka journalists hold anti-government protest
Obama's Monday filled with meetings
Intel Israel exports jump 145 pct, seeks grant for expansion |
US shuttle Endeavour reaches orbit
11 soldiers dead, 50 trapped in Kashmir avalanche
NKorea threatens South amid push to restart talks
Official: About 5 unaccounted for after CT blast
Thailand tightens security ahead of Thaksin ruling
Doctor finally looks at charge in Jackson death
LA-area cleans up from storms, new round coming
Senior Afghan official accused of militant links
Chinese police shut down hacker training business
Taiwan exports surge 76 percent in January
Sumitomo Mitsui triples nine-month profit
India sees 7.2 percent growth as economy recovers
Ex-NFL star Sapp released from Fla. jail on bond
Hyundai boss made to pay fine over losses to firm
Gary Coleman scheduled for Utah court appearance
The black magic of Massive Attack's new album
Google warns Chinese copycat website: report
Charlie and Brooke Sheen due in court
Berlin film fest looks back at 60 years of scandal
Toyota faces fresh questions over recall response
Pakistan's Soneri Bank says eyes RBS Pakistan
Hollywood names up for Olivier theatre awards |
The Who perform hits medley at Super Bowl halftime
Bleak outlook for Iraq's lonely hearts
UAE hospital offers treatment that's for the birds
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01