Derick Tsimba
Government through the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education has today commenced public consultations on the Education Amendment Bill across the country.
Today the Portfolio Committee began its public consultations in Chinhoyi where a 17 member committee was chaired by Priscilla Misihairambwe Mushonga.
Speaking during the public consultations Mushonga said her committee was there to gather the public contributions for consideration in the enactment of the Education Bill since Members of Parliament (MPs) are required to represent people’s views on enactment of the Bill.
“As MPs, we are responsible through public hearings to gather people’s views before the bill is signed into a law by the President. The Bill is centered in section 75 subsection 1of the constitution.
“An example of the issues to be discussed contained in the constitution which we agreed must be signed into law are, State funded education, elimination of discrimination in education and cultural based education. Other issues to be made into law are those that will deal with the acceptance of pregnancy in schools,” said Mushonga.
Sinoia Primary School SDC Chair, Kawoche said corporal punishment should be put to effect to enable children to be disciplined whilst being taught.
“Corporal punishment should not be done to extremes; here and there children must be disciplined. Even the police can recommend children below the age of 18 to be administered corporal punishment to correct behavior,” said Kawoche.
A Headmaster from Sinoia Primary said pregnancy should not be allowed in schools.
“We should not allow pregnancy in schools, we do not want to seem to promote prostitution in schools, we should not adopt the western culture because it is not ours,” said the Headmaster.
Another teacher, only identified as Gorejena said Government should safe guard children and not contradict itself by allowing pregnancy in schools.
“Children should be safe guarded from unprotected sex, Government is spending a lot of money on HIV and AIDS treatment through ARVs, allowing pregnancy is in contradiction with Government policy on HIV and AIDS,” said Gorejena.
Harare Post has learnt that Government intends to amend the Educational Bill in line with the expectations of the public so as to create an Educational Bill that is harmonious across the educational sector in the country.
