By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Harare — The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has strongly rebuked the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) for what it called “false and misleading” claims regarding teacher attendance in schools.
In a statement released on January 16, 2025, Taungana Ndoro, the Ministry’s Director of Communications and Advocacy, dismissed ARTUZ‘s assertion that only 30% of teachers had reported for duty, calling it “unfounded and deceptive.”
The controversy ignited after ARTUZ, in a recent NewsDay article, stated that poor teacher attendance was disrupting the educational process.
However, the Ministry swiftly countered, insisting that teacher and student attendance have both been consistently close to 100% since the beginning of the current term.
“The claims made by ARTUZ are not only false but an intentional attempt to undermine the significant progress we are making in the education sector,” said Ndoro.
He emphasized that regular monitoring by the Ministry, including inspections by the Honourable Minister, senior officials, and Provincial Education Directors (PEDs), confirms that teachers are meeting their responsibilities and students are engaged in their learning.
The Ministry pointed to its “Command Centre,” which collects real-time attendance data from schools across the country daily. According to Ndoro, this system ensures accurate tracking of both teacher and student attendance, disproving ARTUZ’s claims.
“Since the start of the term, the data collected has clearly shown that teacher attendance is far above the 30% figure suggested by ARTUZ,” Ndoro stated.
“This is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and damage the credibility of our education system.”
The Ministry also reiterated its commitment to working collaboratively with progressive teachers’ unions to advance the implementation of the Heritage-Based Curriculum, while ensuring the needs of both teachers and students are met.
“We urge all stakeholders to rely on verified information from credible sources,” Ndoro concluded. “Our commitment to quality education for every child remains unwavering.”
As tensions between the Ministry and ARTUZ persist, the Ministry’s forceful response underscores the importance of accurate reporting and its broader concerns about the potential damage of misinformation to public trust in the education system.
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