School boost for Bindura pupils

Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
BINDURA Municipality has started the construction of a primary school at Brookedale Farm in an effort to relocate pupils learning in disused beer-halls and barns and also to decongest schools.

The Town Clerk, Mr Shangwa Mavesera, said the school would be completed this term.

He said they were putting up basic infrastructure at the school before handing it over to the community and move on to construct another primary school in the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle area.

“Construction of the school was stalled by the rains, but we are positive that by the middle of this term pupils will be able to use the school,” he said.

“This is part of our plan to decongest primary schools and move pupils out of Cocktail and Chiwaridza bar where they are learning from. Although we have shortage of secondary schools, primary schools are critical because the pupils cannot afford to walk long distances to school.

“We have set aside $150 000 for basic infrastructure and we expect to construct eight classrooms. We will hand over the school to the community and establish another school at Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle before year end.

“We realised that primary school pupils in Garikai area cross a river to access school. At least secondary school pupils are old enough to walk compared to primary school pupils.”

Mr Mavesera said they were accepting services from residents as a way of offsetting debts, a move he said had helped council fund projects.

“The initiative has helped in the construction of the school. Some residents are providing trucks to ferry building material as a way of offsetting their debt,” said Mr Mavesera.