The Kaleidoscopic perspective on the privatisation of education in Zimbabwe: A neglect of Ubuntu values?

Abstract

This qualitative case study from Zimbabwe drew inspiration from the sharp rise of for-profit, high-cost private schools to explore and discuss the perspectives of the parents, teachers and private school owners on the nexus between the emergence of private secondary schools and the applicability of Ubuntu values. Tapping insights from the Ubuntu values, the generated data from online questionnaires and WhatsApp discussions were employed to discern the phenomenon. The themed findings built from a sample of 20 participants purposively selected show that Zimbabwe’s education system has ricocheted back to the colonial era as evidenced by the resurfacing of a dual education system based on economic lines. Findings show that private schools evolved not just to supplement public schools in providing quality education but also to reinforce the interests of the wealthy and their substitutes, undermining the inclusive vision embodied in SDG 4 and the Ubuntu philosophy. The study implores African countries in similar contexts to turn to Ubuntu values to provide equal educational opportunities to all citizens, regardless of class. This exploratory research provides novel insights into the applicability of Ubuntu philosophy in enhancing parity in the educational landscape.