Zimbabwe MPs blame govt as kids learn in chicken coops and barns: “This is a national shame”
Children as young as four years old are being taught in fowl runs and abandoned tobacco barns across Zimbabwe, a joint parliamentary committee has revealed. The shocking findings have sparked outrage among lawmakers, who have directly blamed the government for neglecting its duty to provide basic education infrastructure.
In its report, the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and the Thematic Committee on Gender and Development documented appalling conditions at several schools, calling the situation “a national shame” that is failing the youngest and most vulnerable learners.
“The Joint Committee was informed that at Herbert Chitepo Primary School in Zvimba District, which has an enrolment of over 1,000 pupils, abandoned tobacco grading sheds are being used as classrooms,”
the report stated.
ECD pupils taught in fowl runs
Particularly disturbing were the findings concerning Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes, which cater for children aged 4 to 6 years – a critical age for cognitive, social, and emotional development. MPs found that, instead of being taught in safe, child-friendly spaces, many ECD pupils were being forced to learn in environments meant for animals.
“ECD classes at Tore Primary School are conducted in a fowl run, while some classes at Chimedza Primary School are held in open spaces,”
the committee revealed.
Lawmakers expressed alarm at the psychological and physical impact this may have on children in their formative years.
“This is a national shame. We cannot expect our children to thrive in environments not even fit for animals,”
said one MP during a heated parliamentary debate.
“These children are at a stage where they need the most nurturing. Instead, we’re placing them in fowl runs?”
Education experts have long warned that early learning environments have a lasting impact on a child’s future academic success. The committee noted that poor facilities contribute to low morale among both pupils and teachers.
Teachers overstretched, learners overcrowded
The MPs also raised the issue of severe overcrowding in classrooms, which is now common in both rural and urban schools. The government’s recommended teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40 is being widely ignored, the report found.
“The Joint Committee found that many schools are exceeding the standard teacher-pupil ratio… This overburdening of teachers hinders their ability to provide individual attention to students,”
the report said.
“It is no longer unusual to find one teacher handling over 70 students in a single session.”
To cope, many urban schools have adopted hot-sitting – a system where pupils attend in two separate shifts, morning and afternoon. However, the committee warned that this solution is far from inclusive.
“Hot-sitting marginalises disabled children who need more time and consistent routines. They’re being left behind,”
one lawmaker said.
The report concluded that overcrowding, lack of facilities, and the shortage of qualified teachers were combining to weaken the country’s entire education system.
Pupils walk up to 16km to school daily
Conditions are even worse in rural areas, where learners face long distances to access schooling. In some districts, children walk up to 16 kilometres one way, often on footpaths without shelter from the sun or rain.
“At Dabengwa Primary School in Bubi, for example, some pupils travel as far as 16 kilometres one way,”
the report noted.
That’s a 32km (about R30–R40 in transport costs if it were available) round trip every day, for children as young as six. Teachers, learners, and parents told the committee that fatigue and lateness were common, with many pupils struggling to keep up or dropping out entirely.
“The time spent travelling reduces the hours available for studying and completing homework,”
the report said.
“By the time they get to school, the children are already exhausted. By midday, they are falling asleep.”
Despite the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s mandate to ensure access to education within 5km of learners’ homes, MPs noted a widening gap between policy and reality.
Meta description:
Zimbabwe MPs blame govt as ECD learners aged 4–6 are forced to learn in fowl runs and barns, calling it a “national shame”.
Short SEO headline (≤80 characters):
MPs Slam Govt As Kids Aged 4–6 Learn In Fowl Runs, Barns Across Zimbabwe
