Govt gets grant to construct 17 schools

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
Government has received a $20 million grant from the OPEC Fund for International Development for the construction of 17 satellite schools across the country. This was after the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education flighted an advert in August inviting private partners to help with the project. In Mashonaland West, schools will be constructed at Sadoma Extension, Chehamba, Battlefields and Tavoy, while in Midlands, Budiriro and Neta will be the beneficiaries.

Schools will be built at Tengenenge, Claverhill, Belgonie, in Mashonaland Central while in Masvingo schools will be constructed at Chingwizi and Nyuni. In Matabeleland North, Kokoloza and Jabulani schools will be constructed and in Mashonaland East, Good Hope will be built. In Manicaland, Lawrencedale and Sterksrooms will be the beneficiaries while in Matabeleland South, a school will be constructed in Hlanganani.

Addressing a press conference in the capital yesterday at the unveiling of the $20 million loan facility, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cde Lazarus Dokora said Government had decided first to construct the aforementioned schools in the resettlement areas.

He said the loan facility would be repaid over 15 years, with a five-year grace period. “Following approval by Cabinet of joint venture partnerships, arrangements were made whereby partners will fund the construction of schools and hand them over to the Ministry upon completion (Build and Transfer,” he said.

The availing of the $20 million funding comes as Government has a national deficit of 2 056 schools. The grant emanates after Government in August, flighted an advert for expression of interest for joint venture partnerships in the construction of schools infrastructure.

Minister Dokora said categories for the schools were: small schools with an expected enrolment of up to 500 pupils, medium with an enrolment of up to 1 000 and large schools with a capacity of 1 600 pupils. The projects would be based on the models that have been developed by his Ministry and the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“While commendable efforts have been made by Government to provide school infrastructure to cater for the unprecedented increase in enrolment, the infrastructure remains inadequate and for some pupils, it is unsafe and not conducive to quality learning,” he said.

“Government will pay meticulous attention to the type and quality of materials to be used. Design specifications will be accessible to all partners in order to ensure that all structures are durable, secure and fit for purpose.”

Minister Dokora said the grant triggered great support as many foreign and local companies had also expressed interest in partnering with the Government. Interested partners had submitted their tenders to the State Procurement Board and soon more companies would be on board.