New primary school for Bulawayo

Plaxcedes Hove Chronicle Reporter
Emganwini 2 Primary School in Bulawayo has officially opened with 160 pupils that transferred from Senzangakhona, Rangemore and Hlekwini Primary schools enrolling. The opening of the new school is set to ease congestion at Senzangakhona, which had more than 2,000 pupils forcing the school to resort to hot-sitting.Emganwini 2 Primary is situated on the western edge of Emganwini suburb and has one incomplete classroom block, a toilet block and a borehole.

The school’s head, Ellingweth Pholi said most pupils and teachers were moved from Senzangakhona Primary School and that learning started on Monday.
“The pupils range from early childhood development level to Grade Three. The children are using their former school uniforms since the school is yet to acquire its own uniform,” she said.

Parents expressed gratitude to the government saying the school would assist their children who were forced to walk long distances to school.
“We have been waiting for this school to open since our children were forced to walk more than three kilometres to school,” said Rona Zhou.

Another parent Sithandazile Masuku said their children would now walk to their nearer school in safety.
“Many children were involved in accidents while trying to cross the roads to school. We were forced to accompany them to and from school despite the duties we had at home. Now that we have a school nearby, we can save time and do our daily duties,” she said.

A local vendor, Qinisela Ndlovu had already set up a vending stall at the school.  She said she hoped to make business out of selling her wares to pupils.
“The opening of the school is an advantage to us the unemployed because we have since started selling snacks to the children so that we can take care of our families,” she said. The school is still under construction and has no furniture and other essential equipment.

Last week some parents complained that the movement of their children to the new school was premature given the inadequate infrastructure and lack of resources.  However, the government insisted that the school should be opened.