Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe has claimed some officials in the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture ministry were behind the proliferation of illegal colleges recently closed in a government clampdown.
“Anyone with money can open up an illegal college including those from within the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education should be honest with itself that a lot of people who open and run illegal colleges are linked to officials within the ministry.
“Therefore, investigations should be done into the matter to find out who was involved in the establishment of these institutions,” he said.
But, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart challenged PTUZ saying: “My general attitude is to investigate this type of thing and if the public has any evidence of officials being responsible for opening the illegal colleges, they should come forth with it.”
Coltart said the closure of illegal colleges was an ongoing exercise initiated by his ministry and encouraged parents to be aware of the existence of such colleges so as to avoid placing their children at these bogus institutions.
Majongwe, however, commended the ministry’s closure of the illegal schools and colleges.
“I would, however, like to support the ministry’s exercise to close illegal colleges as this would improve the quality of education in Zimbabwe,” he said.
