By Correspondent
A Bulawayo Councillor has come out in support of fired Tertiary Education Deputy Minister Simelisizwe Sibanda.
The councillor has reiterated Sibanda’s call that ECD teachers be proficient in local languages.
Ward 28 Councilor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu said there is need for an investigation and audit of teacher’s proficiency in local languages.
“We are receiving a number of calls from residents.
“They are complaining that they are learners between the ages of five and nine years being taught by teachers who don’t know local languages.
“It’s a very important issue which needs to be addressed.
“As a city we run 30 primary schools and those schools have an enrolment of more than 50 000 learners.
“It is very critical that learners between ECD B and grade three are instructed in their mother language.
She said this ensures that they develop critical skills and creativity.
Ndlovu has since advised that the Council committee investigate and audit the kind of teachers they have.
Firing of Deputy Minister
Sibanda was fired in June by President Mnangagwa after he ordered the removal of a Bubi teacher with a Shona name.
According to Sibanda, the teacher was incapable of teaching the young children in their local language.
Sibanda demanded that Clonmore Primary school head transfer teacher Winnet Mharadze from the school.
An audio in which he made the demand went viral leading to his removal from the Deputy Minister’s post.