adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
POOR results in rural schools in Matabeleland South are a result of an education sector not fit for purpose, a senior government official said yesterday.
Adding his voice to the ongoing debate on shameful results which saw some schools recording zero percent passes in last year’s Grade 7 examinations in the province, Matabeleland South provincial administrator Midard Khumalo said rural pupils were exposed to a harsh learning environment.
“A child cannot do wonders after walking 30 kilometres to get to the nearest school,” he said during a tour of schools in Bulilima on Wednesday.
“At the same time, pupils will not learn properly if they have to sit on buckets or on the floor.”
Khumalo said education required massive investment to improve access to learning through the construction of new schools.
He said rural schools should offer a wide range of subjects including sciences so that pupils can compete on an equal footing with their urban counterparts for university places.
He urged villagers to come up with ways of developing their communities despite financial challenges.
“The success of these projects will be determined by the attitude of community leadership. I urge all community leaders including the traditional leadership to spearhead development,” said Khumalo.
The provincial administrator is on a tour of districts to assess progress in the implementation of development projects.
Khumalo noted that clinics and hospitals in most districts are still far apart and the worst affected were resettlement areas.
He said after his tour, district administrators, council chief executive officers and town secretaries will meet to map the way forward.
Online Reporter