Classroom ceiling collapse at Magwegwe High School injures students

In a shocking incident last Friday, several Advanced Level students at Magwegwe High School in Bulawayo were injured when the ceiling of their classroom unexpectedly caved in during an ongoing lesson.

The injured students were swiftly taken to Mpilo Central Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and subsequently discharged.

According to Taungana Ndoro, the Director of Communications and Advocacy for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the school staff acted quickly to ensure that the injured students received immediate medical attention. Despite this, parents have voiced concerns over the lack of financial assistance for the medical treatment that followed, particularly for medications required post-discharge.

One of the parents, whose child was among the injured, expressed their frustration regarding the situation.

“My son was one of the students with more severe injuries, and after his discharge, I had to pay for pain relief medication out of my own pocket,” the parent said.

“The students were injured when the ceiling fell, and some were even trapped under the debris, only being rescued by students from a nearby classroom.”

In total, twelve students were injured in the accident, five of whom sustained serious injuries. While medical assistance was provided immediately, parents have emphasized the need for the school to take responsibility for the post-care medical expenses incurred by families.

Despite a meeting held between the school’s headmaster and the School Development Committee (SDC) earlier this week, parents are still waiting for clear answers regarding financial support for medical costs. It was reported that during the meeting, no specific discussions were held about the school providing aid to cover these expenses.

When approached for a comment, the school’s headmaster, William Ncube, declined to provide any information and directed all queries to the Provincial Education Director (PED), Bernard Mazambane, who was unavailable at the time due to other professional commitments.(iharare.com)