adminThis was revealed by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, during the commissioning of a classroom block that was built by the Czech Republic at Somgolo Primary School in Lupane District on Thursday.
Minister Coltart said there was a need to address the balance between Mathematics and Science with other subjects.
He said this shortcoming had also created an imbalance at A-Level.
“These figures are unacceptable and they should be improved. There should also be an improvement in the number of schools offering A-Level in the province as there are only 26 at the moment,” said Minister Coltart.
The majority of pupils from Matabeleland North have over the years failed to enrol at universities such as the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo and Lupane State University because of this challenge of having no Mathematics and Science subjects at A-Level.
Minister Coltart said the level of poverty in the province was alarming as 40 percent of children learn under trees because of a shortage of classrooms.
He said there was need to allocate more resources to the education sector which he said was the backbone of the economy.
“Countries with strong economies have a strong education system,” said Minister Coltart.
Turning to the construction of the classroom block, he said it was encouraging that parents of poor schools like Somgolo sacrificed the little they had to improve the learning environment for their children.
He said he was grateful to the Czech Republic for their contribution.
“It takes teamwork and co-operation to achieve something like this. This region has been through difficult times over a protracted period of time and this had adversely affected infrastructural development.
“The Government is slowly recognising the importance of teachers and the need to restore their respect by improving the money they get, their incentives and living conditions,” said Minister Coltart.
The Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Ludek Zahradricek, said his embassy chose to help Somgolo Primary School because his country generally had a culture of helping Matabeleland.
“We concentrate on useful projects which are visible and tangible. A school is one of the most important structures in a country and education is an asset to Zimbabwe.
“I have been in Zimbabwe since the inception of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and there has been visible progress at first glance. Thanks to the GNU that has promoted peace and tranquility in the country. What the country needs is peace, freedom, democracy and education,” he said.
Ambassador Zahradricek thanked the parents from the Somgolo community for their commitment to developing their school.
“Thanks to the parents who, with their own hands, built the school. Although we bought the material, they did the work,” he said.
Somgolo Primary School was established in 1981 and has an enrolment of 109 boys and 98 girls.
It has over the years not achieved remarkable pass rates at Grade Seven with the school attaining pass rates of 40 percent in 2007, 33 percent in 2008, 12 percent in 2009, 27 percent in 2010 and nine percent in 2011.
Meanwhile, speaking during the World Meteorological Day Commemorations at Dlamini High School in Tsholotsho District on Friday where he received a donation of books and furniture donated by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development, Matabeleland North deputy provincial education director,
Mr Matthias Luphahla, said the shortage of furniture at schools was crippling the quality of education.
He said it was ironic that schools in the province did not have furniture when the province was the source of timber being exploited by furniture companies.
“Matabeleland North is endowed with timber such as teak but surprisingly most schools in the province do not have adequate furniture for pupils. At the moment our ratios show that at least 17 pupils share a single chair while about 20 pupils share a desk.
“Something should be done to improve furniture shortage in order to create a friendly learning environment for our children. We applaud the Ministry of Transport,
Communication and Infrastructural Development for donating furniture and textbooks to our schools,” said Mr Luphahla.
He also urged parents to work closely with the schools and ensure that their children received the best education.
The Ministry donated 76 benches, 38 desks and 10 chairs to Mbuhulu Primary School and a consignment of textbooks for major subjects to Dlamini High School.
It also pledged to repair the solar energy system at the two schools to provide power especially for computers that were donated by President Mugabe. The ministry also said it was buying more than 40 bags of cement to repair damaged classroom floors.
There has been concern over the shortage of furniture at most rural schools in Matabeleland North and South provinces. In some instances pupils are forced to kneel down when writing while in others the teachers also do not have desks and chairs.
Companies that are exploiting timber in Matabeleland North have been castigated for failing to plough back to the communities from which they are exploiting the timber. This comes at a time when the Government is working on efforts to ensure that any company that exploits natural resources from an area should give back to the locals under the community share ownership scheme.
Online Reporter