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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
AN Ordinary Level examination was disrupted at Avoca Secondary School in Insiza District after a hailstorm blew off the roof of the building where the test was being written, leaving the answer sheets soaked in rain.
Ten pupils sitting for their Agriculture Paper Two paper on Monday afternoon were forced to abandon the exam before time when the hailstorm extensively damaged the science laboratory they were using as an examination room.
The school head, Benedict Dube, said answer sheets were spoilt to an extent of becoming illegible. He said the hailstorm started at about 3.50PM and lasted for about 20 minutes.
Dube said the affected pupils were traumatised by the experience.
“There were 10 pupils who were sitting for their Agriculture Paper Two examination when the hailstorm hit our school. It started just 10 minutes before the end of the examination. All answer sheets were soaked. We liaised with the examination board concerning the issue and were advised to seal the papers and send them. We have since sent the papers to Zimsec. However, this incident has left our pupils traumatised. Two pupils and a teacher who was invigilating the exam sustained minor injuries. We thank God that there were no serious injuries,” he said.
Asbestos sheets were blown from the laboratory to a distance of about 50 metres and damaged windows of other classrooms as well as their roofing.
Dube said the school’s board has resolved to first repair the classrooms before attending to the laboratory which was extensively damaged.
“We only have four classrooms meaning that classes will have to share so as to pave way for candidates sitting for public exams,” he said.
Dube said they needed roofing sheets as a matter of urgency to allow lessons to continue undisturbed since more rains were threatening.
Pupils told Chronicle that they disregarded the examination as they quickly dashed out of the room for dear life. They said asbestos pieces were falling on them.
“We were still in the examination room when the strong winds blew off the roofing of the Science lab. I watched helplessly as the roofing was lifted up by the strong winds. I was the first one to run for cover because broken asbestos were falling into the examination room and we feared for our lives.
“I was confident of passing this examination with flying colours but I am no longer sure since our answer sheets were spoiled,” said a pupil.
The hailstorm also left several homesteads in the area a sorry state.
“We are trying to repair the destroyed houses but the problem now is that the thatching grass is in a bad state. We have to come up with a plan because we cannot live like this,” said Sarah Ncube from Kuthula Village.
Another villager, Eclose Ncube, bemoaned the deforestration in the area blaming it for the damage to the infrastructure.
“The problem is that we now have few trees in our area to protect our homesteads,” said Ncube.
Last year, more than 30 schools were destroyed by hailstorms in Matabeleland South province alone. The storms have over the years been destructive, leaving some families homeless and killing livestock.
Online Reporter