dyton mupawaendaThe Herald January 3, 1989
THERE are fears that more than 200 former Grade Seven pupils in the Macheke/Wenimbi resettlement scheme and a nearby large-scale commercial farm near Marondera, may fail to secure places for Form One.
The concerned pupils are from two schools in the resettlement schemes and an adjacent school in a commercial farm.
Parents of the pupils recently said that the area lacked secondary schools, adding that the nearest one was in Macheke, more than 20km away.
They said although they had repeatedly pleaded with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education since the establishment of the scheme in 1986, nothing had so far been done.
All the three primary schools have double streams from Grade One to Seven. One settler, Cde Tadzi Mhasho, said if no immediate steps were taken to provide a secondary school, pupils would be forced to drop out of school.
His sentiments were supported by Cde Jack Makwazva, who appealed to the responsible authorities to build a school for next term.
A number of pupils said at the moment they were stranded. The Regional Director of Education for Mashonaland East, Cde Bester Shoko, squashed fears that the pupils would not go to Form One. He said his ministry, having learnt of the pupils’ plight, granted a secondary school in the resettlement scheme.
The school, to be known as Muchakata, would start operating this term and would try to accommodate all the pupils from the three schools.
Cde Shoko disclosed that with the large numbers of prospective form ones in the area, another school was already under construction in Marondera and was expected to be ready when schools open.
Plans are afoot to set up an irrigation scheme in the Macheke/Wenimbi resettlement scheme to improve agricultural production.
The Department of Agritex through its irrigation division would provide all the necessary equipment on a long-term loan basis.
Work would start soon in order for the project to be ready before the next rainy season. Once completed, more than 22 families would benefit from the project.
A total of 33 hectares would be fully utilised, growing crops such as sunflower, maize, ground nuts, potatoes and vegetables.
In a move to get the project to gather momentum, during the first year, Agritex would assist the settlers by giving them technical advice. After that, the department would leave the running of the project to the settlers themselves.
The project’s deputy chairman in the scheme, Cde Guyo Musarurwa, said the proposed project would greatly boost crop output.
He added that with adequate water supply, they would expect to get an annual turnover of more than $190 000.
Meanwhile, families in the scheme are busy maintaining roads there and by last week some 15km had been covered opening drains and filling potholes. – ZIS.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
After the festive period, it is time to focus on the new school calendar that starts next week.
The “back to school” is the most stressful for most parents considering that they would have spent a lot the during the Christmas and New Year season.
The new school calendar brings new challenges and expectations for students especially those moving from primary to secondary school and those who may be changing schools.
The transition from one level to another requires that parents and teachers be there for the students to help them cope with the changes and ensure that they ease into their new roles by ensuring that they have everything they need.
Online Reporter