By 
As Zimbabwe commemorates National Youth Day today in Bulawayo under the theme “A Celebration of Zimbabwe’s Future,” the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has issued a warning to the Zimbabwean government to increase funding for education to ensure access to quality learning resources and well trained teachers.
The union has declared that without immediate and substantial investment in the education sector, the future for Zimbabwean youth looks increasingly bleak.
By Vongai Masuka
In a press statement, ARTUZ has outlined their concerns, stating that the government’s continued failure to prioritize and fund education has left millions of young Zimbabweans without the opportunities necessary for personal and professional growth.
The Union has argued that the current education system is fundamentally misaligned with the demands of the modern job market, leaving graduates ill-prepared for the competitive global economy.
“The education system in Zimbabwe no longer aligns with the demands of the modern job market,”
“The Heritage-Based Curriculum is not the best approach and lacks proper implementation, leaving young people unprepared for the competitive global economy. Instead of investing in quality education and skills development, the government has sidelined the youth, denying them access to meaningful career pathways.” the ARTUZ statement reads.
The Union has highlighted several critical issues that are drawing the education sector back and jeopardizing the future of Zimbabwe’s youth.
“Over two million students have been forced to drop out of school due to financial constraints, with the government failing to uphold the constitutional right to free basic education.
“An estimated 80% of young people are unemployed, struggling to find sustainable livelihoods and facing a future of disillusionment and limited prospects. Low salaries and poor working conditions have driven skilled educators out of the profession, creating a severe staffing crisis that undermines the quality of education. Demotivated and underpaid teachers, the union argues, ultimately harm students through understaffing and underfunding.
ARTUZ issued a series of demands to the Zimbabwean government, urging immediate action to rescue the education sector and secure the future of its youth.
“Fully implement free basic education as enshrined in the Constitution and Education Act. Align the education system with modern job market needs by investing in skills-based learning and relevant training programs.
Increase funding for education to ensure access to quality learning resources and well-trained teachers.” Reads the statement.
ARTUZ has insisted that these fundamental changes are essential to prevent the perpetuation of a cycle of poverty and limited opportunity for Zimbabwe’s young people.
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