Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
INVESTMENT in the education sector to develop well-resourced schools requires a multi-stakeholder approach, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Dr Omphile Marupi has said.
Speaking during an event to hand over a donation of chairs and cement to his former schools Bethel Primary School and Bethel Secondary School recently, Dr Marupi who is also Gwanda South legislator, said people have to plough back to the schools where they were groomed and equipped.
He said this in line with President Mnangagwa’s thrust that “ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.
“I did my Grade One to Grade Seven at Bethel Primary School and secondary at Bethel Secondary. During my recent visit to the school, I was concerned by the shortage of furniture as I found ECD learners seated on the floor. At the secondary school, I was concerned by the state of their floors as they are as good as open ground.
“I then decided to organise chairs for the primary school and bags of cement for the secondary school. Improving learning conditions for learners is a way of motivating them to attend school and perform at their level best. This is where our future leaders are developed,” he said.
Dr Marupi said over the years, enrolment in schools has increased which calls for the need for more furniture and learning space. He said some schools are also dilapidated and in need of rehabilitation.
Dr Marupi said if former students, community and school administrators work together, this could help improve the landscape of the education sector.
“These schools have produced doctors, engineers and other specialists but why are they in a bad condition. If all former students could take up the task of giving something towards rehabilitating their former schools, then it could go a long way,” he said.
Dr Marupi urged schools to work on constructing laboratories to support the National Development Strategy 1 which seeks to enhance the Heritage-Based Education 5.0. Dr Marupi said schools should strive to churn out learners who will meet the demands of today’s market. He said there is also need for schools working with communities to build teacher’s cottages.
Dr Marupi highlighted that the deployment of teachers in his constituency has improved but in some cases, teachers do not have accommodation.
Sezhubane village head, Mr Abson Ndlovu said the infrastructure in some schools was now dilapidated and needed to be rehabilitated. He said parents were making efforts to mobilise resources but there was need for the involvement of more stakeholders.
“We would like to thank our MP for the donation that he has made towards sprucing up the school. Parents are trying to mobilise resources but because of the prevailing drought, they are struggling to cope. There are a lot of gaps at this school that need to be addressed.
“Children deserve to be exposed to a proper learning environment if we expect them to be future engineers and doctors. As we speak, the standards of Government say that roofing has to be made of asbestos but here we have zinc sheets which are unsafe,” he said.
Bethel Secondary School Development Committee chairperson, Mr Christopher Magwala said the cement they received would help kick-start the construction of a classroom block for A-level students.
He said the school has applied to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for permission to introduce A-level classes. The school is currently enrolling Form One to Four learners.
Mr Magwala said the school’s target is to start constructing the A-level classroom block next year for enrolment of learners in 2026. — @DubeMatutu
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