Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube Deputy Radar Editor
The Government has clarified that ongoing consultations on possible name changes for schools across the country are still at a preliminary stage and form part of a structured research process, amid growing public interest triggered by discussions at several Bulawayo schools.
The clarification follows a wave of internal engagements at a number of institutions in Bulawayo where stakeholders have been meeting to deliberate on possible alternative school names, sparking widespread speculation that renaming decisions had already been made.
Schools that have particularly been affected are those that bear names with colonial era origins.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education yesterday, however, moved to set the record straight, saying the exercise is strictly consultative and intended to gather views from education stakeholders, communities and heritage experts before any formal decision is taken.
Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro said the process should not be misinterpreted as immediate policy implementation.
“This is a preliminary process. It’s research based consultation going on,” he said.
Officials within the Ministry emphasised that the consultations are part of a broader policy exploration aimed at understanding how school names align with identity, history, culture and national development priorities.
Officials said the process involves collecting submissions and opinions from multiple stakeholders, including school authorities, parents, alumni associations, current students and local communities.
In Bulawayo, several schools have reportedly begun holding meetings where stakeholders are being invited to suggest and debate potential new names.
While no formal decisions have been announced at school level, the discussions have generated strong public interest, particularly on social media and within local education circles.
Among the suggested names that have emerged from the consultations are Esigodlweni seNkosi for Northlea High School, Flame Lily High for Townsend High School, Bulawayo Junior School for Baines Junior and Bulawayo High School for Milton High School.
The proposals have drawn mixed reactions, with some stakeholders welcoming the idea of names that reflect local identity and heritage, while others argue that existing names carry historical significance and should be preserved.
Education authorities have, however, reiterated that no school name has been changed and that all suggestions remain under review as part of the consultation process.
The Ministry said the exercise is designed to ensure that any future decisions are informed by evidence, historical context and broad-based consensus, rather than isolated proposals.
The Ministry further indicated that once the research phase is completed, findings will be consolidated and submitted through the appropriate administrative channels for consideration.
Any potential changes, it said, would follow established legal and procedural frameworks governing the naming or renaming of public institutions.
