Matabeleland South minister appeals to stakeholders to build science labs

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu

MATABELELAND South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Cde Abedinico Ncube has urged various stakeholders to help build science laboratories at secondary schools across the province as there is still a huge deficit.

The province has 517 primary schools and 173 secondary schools. Only 96 secondary schools have science laboratories, making it difficult for pupils to learn science subjects.

The competence-based curriculum encourages the teaching of science subjects so that schools can produce learners who can come up with innovative solutions.

Cde Ncube said efforts were being made by Government to establish laboratories in rural schools and other stakeholders had to take part in this noble development initiative.

He said there is also need for more secondary schools to be constructed.

“The Government under the Second Republic is making significant strides in establishing science laboratories in rural schools and as stakeholders we also have a role to play. President Mnangagwa has said ‘ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo’ and as stakeholders from Matabeleland South we have to build and develop our province. Our province is rich in natural resources and these can be harnessed to develop our schools,” said the minister.

“Government has made it clear that Zimbabwe is open for business. We have locals in the diaspora, we have businesspeople and we have community members. If we all put resources together we can develop our education system. Local authorities can also use the devolution funds they are getting from Government to establish science laboratories.”

Cde Ncube said if the province has proper science schools then pupils that will be churned out will be able to feed into universities. He said future jobs are in sciences and innovation and it is important to build appropriate infrastructure at grassroots levels.

He said institutions like the Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College have to be flooded by students that were coming from secondary schools in Matabeleland South province. –@DubeMatutu