adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government has said the decision to transfer some pupils from Senzangakhona Primary School in Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb to a new school in the same suburb is not negotiable. Parents with children at the school had shot down the decision by education officers in Bulawayo to transfer their children to the incomplete school being constructed at the edge of the suburb.
Bulawayo deputy provincial education director Richard Swene said the move is meant to decongest the school which has more than 2,000 pupils and has exceeded its carrying capacity by almost 100 percent.
The first group of selected pupils and teachers is expected to move to the new government school, which is yet to be given an official name, on Monday.
Speaking to Chronicle after a meeting with parents and school authorities yesterday, Swene said: “There is no going back in transferring some of the pupils to the new school because we are under pressure to reduce the ballooning enrolment of pupils at Senzangakhona.
“The school has a total of 2,142 pupils against its capacity of at least 1,200 pupils. We have always been concerned about congestion at the school, which has created the problem of hot seating.”
Swene said the movement of pupils to the new school would be done in stages, starting with the Early Childhood Development (ECD) A and B, Grades 1, 2.
He said he was aware of the parents’ concerns and indicated that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was working with the Bulawayo City Council and the police in Emganwini to address the concerns.
“Concerns raised by parents include the safety of their children who will be crossing a busy road to and from the new school and inadequate equipment.
“We are discussing the issue of safety with the city council and we have also informed the member in charge of Emganwini Police Station that the new school will be operational starting on Monday,” he said.
He added: “We have convinced parents that the development and completion of the new school can only be fast-tracked if there are children learning there.
“Since there is no electricity at the school, all the paperwork that requires printing will be done at Senzangakhona,” said Swene.
Senzangakhona’s School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson Jilott Sibanda urged parents to be pro-active in the development of the new school and provide manpower.
“We need support from parents in order for us to overcome the challenges we are facing. I therefore encourage all parents from both schools to be part of this project.
“There is a lot that still needs to be done at the school. It is also important for parents to pay school fees in time as the new school urgently needs money,” said Sibanda.
He could not be drawn to reveal the number of children moving to the new school, saying the selection process was still in progress.
The majority of parents said they were concerned about the criteria to be used in the selection process.
The school, which is yet to be given an official name, has two incomplete classroom blocks and toilets and has no furniture and other essential equipment.
It uses borehole water and has no perimeter fence.
Online Reporter