Church mobilises for more science labs, friendly schools

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

The Lutheran Development Services (LDS) is mobilising resources to accelerate the construction of science laboratories and infrastructure that will enhance the teaching and uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at its schools in Matabeleland South province.

As it stands, fewer learning facilities have standard science laboratories, leaving most children in the province focusing mainly on arts and social science subjects.

Lutheran Development Services’ education secretary for Western Diocese, Mr Mekia Muyambo, said religious organisations were complementing Government’s efforts in investing more resources on innovation and entrepreneurship to promote national economic and infrastructural development.

He was speaking during the official opening of a senior girls’ dormitory at Zezani High School in Beitbridge West recently.

The facility has a carrying capacity of 76 pupils. It was built by the Lutheran Development Services with the help of the local community and parents. Previously, the school had facilities to house 160 pupils.

Mr Muyambo said increased support on innovation would go a long way in accelerating SADC and Government’s industrialisation thrust.

“As an organisation with most of its schools in the rural set up, we decided to have science laboratories at our high schools, Manama and Zezani,” said Mr Muyambo.

“The reason is we observed that most of rural students were deprived of science subjects and they didn’t qualify to study for professional technical degrees because of this deficiency.

“So, we took a bold decision as a board and we had to invite parents and the business community to come up with resources to assist in the construction of laboratories”.

He said where they have primary schools the rural areas, they were encouraging the authorities to build computer laboratories.

This, he said will ensure that children learn how to use computers at a tender age and embrace digitisation.

Mr Muyambo said the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was the modern way of teaching education and hence the facilities must be made available countrywide.

“Our education board, balanced members to such an extent that we have representatives at various universities and colleges who guide us on the use and promotion of ICT facilities and the teaching of science subjects,” he said.

“To ensure that we move forward with the dream of creating child friendly schools, we have set down with parents and explained to them why we need the facilities and the need to build user friendly infrastructure for children.

“This is paying dividends; we are seeing more children developing an interest in learning science subjects because of the availability of the requisite facilities”.

Renowned academic, Dr Ompile Marupi, who officially opened the new girls’ dormitory said it was pleasing to note that most schools in rural areas were fully implementing gender sensitive policies.

These, he said were critical in motivating the girl child and improving their access to standard education facilities.

Dr Marupi who is a former student at the school, said they had pooled resources to ensure that they construct more facilities to accommodate the girls at the school.

“During our days, the enrolment of girls was very low and this was disheartening at the same time discouraging for those who could not secure boarding places and had to walk long distances from their home to school daily.

“So together, as former students working with the school, we decided to make the school user and child friendly through the construction of this hostel we are opening today,” said Dr Marupi.

He said they also contributed resources to make sure that those children in rural areas could compete on an equal footing with those in urban settlements.

Zezani High School matron, Ms Ntombienhle Dube said the new hostel had improved ablution facilities and a reading place and adequate lighting which were critical in motivating children to stay in school.

A student at the school, Mphoenhle Muleya said, “This is a welcome development, we are happy that more female pupils will be enrolled here giving them a chance to further their education. You will note that it is less motivating for some to walk longer distances to school because of the unavailability of boarding accommodation”.

Another pupil, Ester Ndlovu said the new hostel will help address issues of bush boarding and the crowding in the previous hostel.

She said they were also happy that the school had a senior science laboratory offering both male and female pupils to explore their potential.