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Lovemore Dube
MATOPO High School needs about $80,000 for its technical vocational school to open its doors in January next year.
The college will incorporate both males and females from the school’s neighbouring community. A majority are expected to be school dropouts who will be equipped with the technical know-how to be entrepreneurs in their own right when they complete their studies to be examined by Higher Education Examinations Council (Hexco).
Announcing the development, Matopo High School headmaster Mr Gardson Sibanda said they were happy with the latest development at the school.
The idea to expand has been as a result of the desire to enrol youths from the community who are out of school due to a number of reasons.
“We want a student who when he leaves school has the necessary technical skills to live off them and actually be an employer.
“We will start the programme early next year and we are laying the foundation for that with a minimal budget of $80-100,000 to get the ball rolling. This will be for the expansion of some of the existing infrastructure and acquisition of new material to add on to that.
“We are hopeful donors may come on board and make dreams come true for the youths from the community and those at our conventional school who are not academically strong. These skills will be a lifeline,” said Mr Sibanda during a tour of the school on Tuesday.
Already the conventional school children are doing the technical vocational subjects.
He said the non-formal education set up will force developments that will benefit both groups.
To be improved are workshops to accommodate the machine shop and motor maintenance classes.
Silindile Ncube who is the school’s deputy headmistress and is in charge of vocational and non-formal education said the bakery which is in use already and providing bread to the school will also be improved and extended to accommodate the food processing classes to be introduced.
She added that the school would open an agro-shop for produce from the agriculture students with the view to produce stock feed for the school and farming community.
Vegetables would also be for the dining hall to improve self-sufficiency at the school.
The school, 2010 Merit Award Secretary’s Bell winners would charge low fees for the technical vocational school to accommodate students from low income families.
Ncube said pupils at the formal school would also be expected to walk out of the school after four or six years with drivers’ licences.
The courses to be covered at the technical vocational school include food processing, agriculture, bakery, garment construction, bookkeeping, business English, business mathematics, animal husbandry, horticulture, car maintenance, machining, computer operations, electrical installations and maintenance.
“This is our school’s initiative which is in tandem with the Brethren In Christ Church’s plans on the education front,” said Ncube.
She said another aspect of the concept would be e-learning.
“Their learning would be enhanced by e-learning which will be a prominent feature in teaching,” said Ncube, a resource teacher in that line.
She said the school had adequately qualified personnel for the college to be introduced next year.
As part of the e-learning programme, Ncube said the school would play host to a conference in November.
Matopo High School which was established in 1898 is one of Matabeleland region’s leading institutions with a mouthwatering alumni list that compares favourably with some of the best in the land.
Former pupils include Barbara Makhalisa-Nkala, Mgcini Nkolomi, Zie Masiye, Caiphas Nziramasanga who headed the Nziramasanga Commission, Mehliswa Abu-Basuthu, Austin Sibanda, Professor Mqhele Dlodlo, Boitumelo Mguni, Doctor Siboniso Moyo, Daniel Ndlela, Albert Nyathi, Isaac Mpofu, Glory Makwati, Nqobile Dube, Milton Webb, Clifton and Clifford Mutize and Chemist Siziba.
Online Reporter