Lockdown turns millions of children illiterate in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Despite being promoted to the next grades, millions of children in Zimbabwe are unable to read or write, due to repeated lockdowns and inability to hook to online education.

Josphat Magosvongwe, 8, had just started schooling when restrictions were imposed to stem the spread of the virus. He is now in second grade, but cannot read or write letters.

“He hasn’t been attending school for the better part of 2020, meaning part of his grade one school learning never took place as the country was under lockdowns for most of the time,” Linda Jonasi, mother of Magosvongwe, told Anadolu Agency.

His 33-year-old father Jonasi Magosvongwe is worried about the child’s illiteracy, despite now studying in class two.

But many fortunate children studying in private schools did afford to switch to digital learning.

“I didn’t miss much during the lockdowns because my school kept us busy through virtual learning. My teacher kept teaching us online using the internet,” said 12-year-old Livson Chigota.

The COVID-19 restrictions have sharpened the divide between wealthy and poor children.

According to the US-based Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resources Center, Zimbabwe reported 133,205 COVID-19 cases with 4,690 deaths. The country has so far administered 6 million doses, but still, just 18.2% population stands fully vaccinated.

Obert Masaraure, who heads the Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, said it is an uphill task to make up for the loss of education and make children who did not have digital access compete with children who had access.

“We have had learners who were supposed to be in grade one, grade two, and three at the beginning of 2020. They are automatically in next grades but have missed on concepts,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education treats a person as literate when someone gets into grade three in primary school. It was visualized that till then, a child will be able to understand letters and read and write.

But experts say the COVID-19 has sent this rule upside down. Students in grade three are unable to comprehend letters, leaving parents and teachers worried.