Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza Zimpapers Reporter
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo is at Mahatshula Primary School in Bulawayo on a fact-finding mission on challenges faced by the school, including classroom shortages, textbook shortages and delayed BEAM funding.
The minister is at the school as part of a tour aimed at getting a first-hand picture of the state of schools across the city, including their infrastructure, staffing, enrolment, utilities and learner welfare.
Ministry director of advocacy and communication Mr Taungana Ndoro said the exercise was not a witch-hunt but an opportunity for the minister to understand the challenges confronting schools.
“This is not a witch-hunt exercise, but it is aimed at giving Minister Moyo an appreciation of vital information of all schools he will tour such as enrolment numbers, number of teachers, water and electricity supply sources for the schools, shortages of classroom blocks, if any, and the general state of staff and learners welfare among other issues,” he said.
The tour is being attended by provincial and district education officials, including Provincial Education Director Mr Bernard Mazambani, district schools inspectors, teachers’ unions and development partners such as Plan International.
At Mahatshula Primary, headmistress Mrs Thobekile Siziba said the school had 1 216 learners- 641 boys and 575 girls- being taught by 43 qualified teachers.
“Mahatshula Primary School has enrolment of 641 boys, 575 girls bringing the total of 1 216 learners with a staff compliment of 43 teachers, who are all qualified. We do not have a shortage of teachers and none of our staff members are living with disabilities,” she said.
However, the school is battling a shortage of classroom space, forcing it to introduce a hot-sitting arrangement.
“Due to a shortage of classrooms we are on a hot sitting schedule where some learners in ECD (Early Childhood Development), Grades 2 to 4, attend classes later in the day. Funds permitting, we need five blocks of two classrooms each,” she said.
The school also has 105 learners benefiting from the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), but Mrs Siziba said the institution last received the funds in 2022.
“105 learners are on BEAM (Basic Education Assistance Module) and we last received the funds in 2022,” she said.
The council-owned school is connected to the national electricity grid and has a solar system, although it does not have a diesel-powered generator.
It also has internet connectivity funded by the School Development Committee, but faces a shortage of textbooks across all learning areas.
The school has 20 computers for more than 1 200 learners and three teachers qualified to teach Information, Computer and Technology lessons.
Four learners living with disabilities are enrolled at the school, with the institution providing learning materials to support them.
Mrs Siziba said the school had municipal water and two boreholes, with the water regularly inspected by council.
With the rainy season approaching, she said the school’s roofs were intact, although several window panes needed replacement.
The school recorded a 92 percent Grade Seven pass rate last year
