More sit O Level exams at schools for prison staff families

A TOTAL of 430 candidates across the country have registered for this year’s October-November Ordinary Level ZIMSEC examinations at schools run by the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) while150 had already sat for their June examinations.

ZPCS has been expanding its school system so that children of all its staff can find school places easily and close to where their parents work.

It now runs 13 primary and three secondary schools countrywide and the recent additions are Anju in Umguza, Matabeleland North, Kadoma Primary School and Gakwe in Guruve.

Plans to establish a boarding school in Mazowe are at an advanced stage with the site already identified and master plan in place.

ZPCS deputy Commissioner General Dr Granisia Musango attended a two-day school heads conference held in Bindura whose objective was to come up with working guidelines in all prison schools.

Deputy Director Education Chief Superintendent Kuzivakwashe Dzimbanhete said ZPCS is promoting quality inclusive education guided by a Constitution crafted by their education directorate.

“We are here to formulate standard operation guidelines and equip administrators with shared beliefs on how we can improve our schools,” he said.

“Request to construct secondary schools at Mutare Farm, Bindura Farm and Mutimurefu have been granted. Meanwhile construction of these schools including a primary school in Mutimurefu, Chipinge and Karoi Farms are in progress.

“Construction of Khami, Chikurubi and Chivhunze secondary schools are also in progress. Mazowe Prison Primary School obtained a ZIMSEC centre this year and the first exam class sitting at the school this year.”

Chief Spt Dzimbanhete said the commitment by ZPCS in providing education is essential in human capital development which fulfils the President’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.

Dr Musango said the conference also adopted a resolution to hold an inaugural Commissioner General’s sports gala and merit award on October 10 to 13 this year in Mutare.

The sports gala will see learners competing in soccer, volleyball and netball.

Dr Musango toured Pednar Primary School now Bindura Prison Primary schools and officially opened a staff house.

He said provision of staff accommodation is key in staff retention.

“We are also looking into the transport issue for our schools and we have started providing buses for our schools. We will avail resources as soon as we get them,” she said.

“We are doing robust renovations for the schools that we inherited and ensure that we avail qualified personnel. We want to ensure that we have a primary and secondary school in every cantonment area so that dependents of our officers and the community have enough facilities.”

Officer commanding ZPCS in Mashonaland Central Commissioner Charity Gezi appealed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to consider employing or transferring qualified spouses of prison officers to prison schools.

This will strengthen families ties and bring couples closer, reducing infidelity, she said.

“We are excited with plans to establish a boarding school in Mazowe.This was necessitated by the challenges officers stationed in Mazowe encountered sending their children to schools as far as Harare,” she said.

“We will engage a brick moulding company in Mazowe, Delafuse, to assist us so that we can quickly start the school.” – New Ziana

“The concept of inclusive education is centred on the philosophy of education for all regardless of their individual needs and nature. The province has three primary schools owned by the ZPCS with an enrolment of 1 800 pupils.”

Comm Gezi said the conference also deliberates on having the same uniforms across all prison schools for corporate identity and image.

The provincial education director, Dr Themba Mangwiro, said they are working closely with ZPCS because the province is in need of over 30 new schools to decongest Bindura and Mvurwi.

“Our population is exploding and ZPCS is in the right direction.Education should be accessed by everyone and more schools reduce distance travelled by learners,” he said.

“We are providing them with expertise in the planning and building of schools. We are also providing the teachers in prison schools.

“We also advocate for people to work close to their families. However,it is difficult sometimes and when we get a vacant post we will assist with the transfers,” he said.

 New Ziana