FEW parents responded to the call by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to attend the schools opening day yesterday to witness their children recite the national pledge.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The ministry introduced the national pledge, which reportedly seeks to foster a spirit of patriotism among school-going children.
The move has been met with serious resistance by parents and other stakeholders who have already taken the responsible minister, Lazarus Dokora, to the High Court seeking its reversal.
Schoolchildren had been told to come along with their parents who were expected to give them gifts after reciting the national pledge.
However, NewsDay has it on good authority that only a few parents responded to the call.
In a survey, teachers from several schools in the capital said parents had shown no interest in the national pledge.
They, however, said they would go ahead with making children recite the national pledge fearing victimisation.
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Parents also slammed Dokora for introducing the pledge without consulting them.
“As parents, the issue of the national pledge from the word go was uncalled for and it cannot be entertained. No parent in his or right sense of mind will really accept the move taken by minister Dokora,” one parent, Manuel Nyawo, said.
Another one, Tendai Mhlanga, said parents were justified not to support the national pledge because it infringed on freedom of expression and worship.
“In my view, the national pledge militates against freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Therefore, parents who snubbed the process are justified. The minister should learn to consult extensively than just imposing so many issues and in these particular case parents themselves,” Mhlanga said.
Others said they were fully behind those who had sought the legal route to bar the national pledge.
Both the ministry’s communication officer Patrick Zumbo and Dokora could not be reached for comment.
