Government through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary education has ordered an immediate introduction of semi military ethics to be observed by all learners throughout the country.
In a circular sent out to all Primary and Secondary Schools in the country last week, the Ministry has orders all learners to daily recite an oath of loyalty to the sitting government.
The oath of loyalty is varied in content between the levels of the school systems. In the oath, children have to swear to respect the country’s president and all the country’s leaders and vow never to disrespect the authorities.
The oath is a duplication of the oath that the infamous ZANU PF youth known as Green Bombers chant every day throughout their training at the Border Gezi training youth training centres.
Over and above the oath of allegiance, learners are now required to march and salute the national flag in military fashion. Whenever the children sing the national anthem, the circular instructs the learners to stand at attention with one hand holding their chest while the other is raised with a clenched fist. The raised clinched fist is ZANU PF’s symbol.
Added to the school curriculum through the same circular is the dictation that schools must teach all learners mass displays as part of their extra curriculum activity. Mass displays are normally an entertainment feature at state and ZANU PF gatherings.
Meanwhile, Primary and Secondary education Minister Lazarus Dokora will tour the country’s ten provinces emphasising the new requirements. On Saturday the Minister kicked off his nationwide tour in Manicaland Province.