A report released by Matabeleland Development Initiative (MDI) last month blames the poor pass rates in Matabeleland region on poverty, history and deployment of teachers who do not understand local languages.
The report was compiled following an inclusive educational consultation meeting held under the theme: Towards an inclusive, equitable and quality education for economic empowerment and growth. MDI said the poor 2017 Ordinary Level and Advanced Level results are not a true reflection of the capacity of the pupils in the region. The report said unless the region undertakes a policy and institutional commitment to deal with the acute levels of poverty, the right to education will never be fully realised. Part of the report reads:
The regional socio-economic challenges are indeed a reflection of the performance of the national and global economy which has impacted negatively on the pupils performance. This indaba identified poverty as the biggest contributor to the educational crisis in the region. Poverty has a bearing on the number of children who attend and complete primary, secondary and tertiary education in the region.
The report said Matabeleland region suffered under development due to post independence political disturbances.
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