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Mashonaland Central Bureau
Bindura Municipality is pinning hopes on devolution funds to construct more schools after using the same funds to complete Brockdale Primary School that will open its doors this coming term.
Bindura Town Clerk, Mr Kelton Chinowaita, said council had struggled to complete Brockdale Primary School since 2018 using school development levies .
The critical shortage of schools is caused by an increase in the population and number of new suburbs like Woodbrook and Brockdale.
Pupils are walking for up to three kilometres from these locations to either Chiwaridzo or Hermann Gmeiner Primary School.
Mr Chinowaita said; “The school levy was not enough to complete Brockdale Primary School and devolution funds came to our rescue.
“The school is complete and it has two blocks with four classes each.
“We will start by enrolling lower grades while building more blocks. The school can take up to Grade 3.
“The School Development Committee (SDC) will take over as we focus on building more schools.
“We have a critical shortage of schools in Bindura and the schools are overcrowded. Brockdale came as a result of the need to decongest our schools.
“We have learners sheltered in an old beerhall and our first priority is to move them to a better school.”
He said Brockdale will not be able to accommodate all the children due to the increase in population.
“We might continue using the beer hall until we have built enough schools.
“We have eight primary schools and three secondary schools,” he said.
“In our five year plan we want to build one primary and secondary school in the high-density and low-density respectively.
“The primary school will be in Woodbrook and secondary in Greenhill.”
A resident, Mr Brian Zenda, said he is hoping to enrol his son at Brockdale Primary School when it opens its doors.
“Long distances to school are not ideal for lower grade learners, which prompt their mothers or caregivers to accompany them to school ,which is cumbersome,” he said.
Online Reporter