Education cancelled for 4.5 million students in Zimbabwe

This seems absolutely insane. It's crazy reading about teachers being assaulted and murdered, and schools being turned into torture centres... and now this.

You chose the right word to describe this situation: heartbreaking! I cannot believe millions of children are left without an education and any prospect of a better life. It is terrible!

As if they could afford to take a hit like this. "Education is the transmission of civilization", and those without it will find it difficult to keep up with the changing world. Without a functioning education system, the passing of 'good' knowledge is impossible, and no society can strive in a system where the blind is leading the blind. They can cope I guess.

Maybe other countries could send some volunteers, it's such a tragedy that these kids are gonna miss out on such a crucial part of their development.

Such a shame

this is some scary shit

What makes this story even more significant is that in the 1990s there was a national O-level pass rate of 72 per cent, the best in the whole of Africa. Last year it was just 11 per cent. That's a huge fall.

what's a "national O-level pas rate?

I wonder when will they figure out that if you keep peope from learning that when all the educated people die off no one will b there to take control? oh wait maybe that's their plan...

Africa was always doomed.
Take your teachers and run

The saddest part of it all is that the possibility of these children growing up and making a positive change is slim as they won't have the knowledge and education needed to make a significant difference in their homelands. I wish things were different and people in the world didn't suffer like this.. so much change needs to happen

Wow that is just sad

thats the same thing happening in the USA I guess we select where we want our doctors from ... Africans don't get the right to education what an American crime

That's really horrible. No class of '08? My heart pours out to these kids. There has to be something we can do to help, even from here. Any ideas?

How sad. Why is it always the women and children who suffer?

There will be terrible widespread consequences for school closures like this in developing countries.

How much money is needed to keep the school going for a year? Does anyone know?

terrible

On August 19, 2008, official figures announced for June estimated inflation of over 11,250,000 percent (i.e., prices doubling every 22 days).

The Cato Institute's Senior Fellow Steve Hanke released a document estimating Zimbabwe's annualized inflation rate to be 2,000,000,000,000% as of October 3, 2008.

Zimbabwe needs to stop printing money to pay off their debts.

Sheesh and we thought American teachers had it bad!

America wants to "help the spread of global democracy," and police the world, yet we can't even spare to help a nation that's in an actual crisis. With education cancelled, farm land stripped, a lack of arms, and money that devalues when it touches your hand, Zimbabwe will continue to suffer until someone else steps in.

This sort of thing makes me grateful that I have access to such great education. I wish more people in the U.S. were aware of what priviledges they have here.

Man!

Sending them out for a year, is there really a promise to return the education system after this time? After this prosecution will teachers want to return? To completely remove a countries ability to teach and learn is ludicrous. How absolutley heartbreaking....

This is the saddest story I've read on current in a while... :(