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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Chitemamuswe Primary School makeshift structures in Muzarabani are being upgraded under a programme initiated by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to assist nine schools in the district.
The school, which started in tobacco barns and a grading shed, has shot up the ladder after parents made bricks and built classrooms.
The provincial education director Mrs Naomi Chikosha said the development has generated a lot of excitement and inspired other schools to improve and parents were moulding bricks for teachers’ accommodation.
“The story of Chitemamuswe Primary was a sorry one. Prior to the Vice President’s intervention, children were learning while sitting on the floor in tobacco barns and grading sheds. Some learners who passed through the school never experienced the joy of learning while sitting on a bench,” she said.
She said Chitemamuswe was initially not one of eight vulnerable schools in the Dande Valley that had been earmarked to get assistance from the Office of the Vice President.
However, due to incessant rains between January and February this year a lot of schools were affected and Chitemamuswe was added to the list.
“The lower part of the district has pole and dagga school, while the upper part has grading shed and barn schools. The project is strategically placed.
“Those who can’t make it down the valley to see what the Vice President has done at the eight schools, will have a chance to do so at Chitemamuswe Primary School,” she said.
“The model school will inspire development in a lot of other schools. There is enthusiasm in parents who have organised themselves to mould 35 000 bricks per village for teachers’ houses.”
Parents managed to build two classroom blocks in four months.
“The structure, however, does not have doors, windows and floors as yet. During his recent visit to the school, the Vice President undertook to complete the project for the parents,” said Mrs Chikosha.
She added that the 100-day cycle introduced by Government is a pushing force to meet targets and a number of schools that were under construction have been completed.
“There is a lot of excitement. Two classroom blocks and a teacher’s house was constructed in less than four months. In most cases it takes parents up to four years to construct a school,” she said.
“I have learnt that the Government is ready to embrace projects that come from the people. The school development committee, councillors and school heads are critical in the development of a school.
“The Vice President is very practical and responsive to people’s needs. During his visit to the school and after viewing the two classroom blocks his next question was where the teachers are being accommodated.”
Online Reporter