Union accuses Zanu-PF of distorting history in schools
School teachers say politicians are abusing the curriculum. The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said in a press statement this week that the history curriculum in particular had been militarised.
The union blamed this situation on events over the years that have seen Zanu-PF lose its grip on politics. As a result, Zanu-PF had resorted to brainwashing school children and teaching only history that favoured the party, it said.
"The threat to the political order which emerged at independence in 1980 has prompted power-holders to officially abuse the history curriculum to peddle their ideology and brainwash the innocent learners," the union said.
"Teachers too have not been spared and those working in politically volatile areas have stopped teaching components of the history syllabus deemed to be politically incorrect for fear of being attacked. Non-professionals or professionals cum-politicians have now invaded the system to teach what they call 'national history'."
In April, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said the political situation was forcing teachers to desert rural schools that are understaffed or have unqualified staff.
The teachers appealed to the principals in the Global Political Agreement to solve the problem of political violence and setting up of militia bases at schools.
PTUZ said Zanu-PF was moving into primary schools to push its propaganda on innocent children by offering what it terms "structural lessons".
"According to the 'syllabus' designed by the National Museums and Monuments, pupils will be exposed to biased content, which is the subject of a fierce dispute between Zanu-PF and other political formations in the country," the union said.
PTUZ argued that curriculum developers have substituted topics such as food studies and health with studies in democracy, nationhood and territorial integrity as well as sovereignty. These topics were being taught on biased political ideologies.
The union said its members were at a crossroads, especially history teachers, who found it hard to teach the subject without being accused of attacking Zanu-PF. This has forced teachers to avoid teaching true history for their own safety.
"As a coping strategy, most of us have now resorted to either teaching one-sided history for our safety or to stop teaching such topics," read the statement.
PTUZ said the history curriculum had been structured in a "militarised" manner, which sought to undermine other aspects of human history, such as economic, technological and social aspects.
"Collectively we must see the militarisation of the national history as an attack on our children's freedom of conscience and their right to develop critical minds."
Last month Education Sports and Culture Minister David Coltart said government was working on an educational policy that would make it a criminal offence for politicians to interfere in the running of schools .
"We have adopted a policy to ensure that children are not part of political campaigns in school. The absence of a tougher educational policy has posed serious effects on school children who are swept into the political agenda. The policy is a priority to the ministry, we don't want politicians in schools," he said.
"Schools should not be partisan to politics. School children should learn about politics in the classroom, its part of history and culture, learn about the different ideologies but should not be involved in campaigns. This problem is common in the rural areas, where politicians have created bases and even threaten teachers," Coltart said.