Some parents and guardians in rural areas are struggling to access Grade Seven results for their children due to internet connectivity challenges.
The results were released last week Friday, with the national pass rate standing at 37.11 percent, a decrease of 9.79 percent from 2019’s national pass rate which was 46.9 percent.
Speaking to CITE, Elina Sibanda from Highfields in Nyamandlovu revealed that she has not accessed her grandchild’s grade seven results as she was told to check them online.
“I have not yet managed to collect my grandchild’s grade seven results as there is no one at the school. When I tried to call her teacher, she told me that I was supposed to check the results through the phone but I do not have knowledge on how to do it,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda said when she tried to communicate with the school headmaster, he told her to check with him next week.
“When I contacted the headmaster, he told me that he might come to the school next week, so I am now waiting for that. This is really affecting us because even if I collect the results I do not know where I will look for the form one place as there is no one around our schools here, we are really disadvantaged and we hope that Covid-19 may end soon because it is really affecting the education system especially for the children in rural areas, most of them will forget what they learnt as they are now busy in the fields,” she said.
Another parent told CITE that they phoned their relative in rural Gutu, Masvingo and she told her that she was facing the same predicament.
Contacted for a comment, ARTUZ president Obert Masarura said the collection of the result slips has been hampered by the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on movement.
“Teachers and school heads are taking head of the lockdown regulations. The Covid-19 crisis is also hindering movement of physical results slips. On another note, the school staff remain demoralised because of underpayment,” said Masarura.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, public relations officer Patrick Zumbo said they had not received such reports.
“Which schools are these? As far as we are concerned, we have not heard of any learner or parents who failed to access results. Results are online and slips have been collected by schools,” said Zumbo.
“Where there is no internet, they can access copies of slips. All schools have copies now.”
