OPPOSITION MPs yesterday questioned the introduction of the national pledge at primary and secondary schools without consulting key stakeholders over its acceptability and content. by VENERANDA LANGA
Binga North MP, Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC-T) said Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister, Paul Mavima must explain how the national pledge was crafted and if there was any consensus on its contents.
“There are two foundations for the so-called consensus, the first being the fact that virtually all words in the national pledge are coming from our Constitution, which was crafted based on extensive consultations,” Mavhima responded.
“Second, the national pledge is also part of the new curriculum, which was crafted after consultations at schools, which involved parents and even MPs took part. Initially, when the outreach was done, MPs were invited to make contributions, and there is no question as to whether there was national consensus because we did consultations.”
Buhera South legislator, Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) said if the opposition MDC-T legislators did not like the new national pledge, then they should withdraw their children from schools.
“Our own children want to learn about national issues and patriotism, and if opposition MPs do not want the national pledge, they should remove their children from school,” he thundered.
Mavhima said the national pledge was part of heritage studies.
“The subject that must begin to be studied from early childhood development (ECD) level up to Advanced Level. In the new curriculum, we will have patriotism lessons up to ‘A’ Level,” he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mabel Chinomona, then ruled out further supplementary questions on the issue and agreed with Sibanda’s request that Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora issues a ministerial statement to allow for extensive debate before the pledge is introduced in May.
Meanwhile, the question-and-answer session was disrupted for 35 minutes after Mabvuku-Tafara MP James Maridadi
(MDC-T) queried why State broadcaster ZTV was not broadcasting the National Assembly sitting live.
Glen Norah legislator Webster Maondera (MDC-T) also raised a point of order with Chinomona that MPs had, for long, insisted that there be an acting Leader of the House in the absence of Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa, but nothing had been done on the issue.
