Dr. Sifiso Ndlovu ,CEO of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), has issued a strong call for Parliament to protect the nation’s public education system, warning that stagnant funding is driving it toward privatization.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Ndlovu highlighted concerns over the lack of sufficient budget allocation for public education, which he argues threatens both accessibility and quality.
“We’re concerned that the stagnation in funding is pushing the education system toward privatization,” he said, pointing out that public education has consistently received around 14-15% of the national budget over the past 14 years. According to Dr. Ndlovu, these budget limitations could shift control of educational standards away from the government and towards private or donor interests, which often influence policy through austerity measures.
Dr. Ndlovu also emphasized the critical shortage of qualified teachers, citing United Nations reports and ZIMTA’s observations. He noted that an estimated 18,000 additional teachers are needed to improve the student-teacher ratio, a challenge the association hopes will be addressed in the upcoming budget discussions.
“Budget season should prioritize robust funding for education and resist austerity measures imposed by external organizations,” Dr. Ndlovu added, urging economic policymakers to recognize the long-term benefits of investing in public education.
