The study focused on how secondary schools that malfunctioned at the thick of economic crisis evoked parental involvement in Harare, Zimbabwe. Owing to the qualitative nature of the study, a case study research design was found to be more appropriate in order to describe in detail the rise of parentocracy. Face-to-face interviews and a questionnaire were used to gather data. 368 respondents constituted the population from which a sample of 63 participants was drawn. Following a detailed thematic analysis, it emerged from the study that parentocracy increased as schools underperformed. Recommendations were made for the government to address the challenges that are threatening pedagogy in order to lighten the burden on parents.

Teaching Practice is presumed to be key to professionalization of teachers, although very little research has been done on its effectiveness. This article seeks to show the views of stakeholders on the effectiveness of Teaching Practice in Zimbabwean primary schools. A case study which is largely qualitative was found appropriate. A sample of 84 participants comprising 40 student teachers, 20 mentors, four Teaching Practice co-coordinators and 20 school administrators was purposively drawn from Morgenster and Masvingo Teacher's colleges in Masvingo Province to help provide data on this issue. It emerged that Teaching Practice, though largely beneficial, was also detrimental to the grooming of an ideal teacher. From the findings, it was clear that the current thinking among stakeholders is from other institutions to allow for objectivity of the practice. It was recommended that, a revisit of the curriculum was necessary and the need for government to support Teaching Practice was also highlighted and that trainee teachers should be supervised by lecturers.

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