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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
MOST parents and guardians are yet to secure places for Early Childhood Development (ECD) with most schools accepting a limited number of pupils due to lack of adequate facilities.Schools will open tomorrow for the 2015 first term.
Although most schools have long stopped enrolling for 2015, on Friday parents and guardians in Bulawayo could still be seen loitering around school yards hoping for a last-minute reprieve.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora yesterday admitted that schools had no capacity to accommodate the ECD classes. He, however, insisted that all children should start school at the age of four.
Dokora advised schools to work towards providing the required facilities and infrastructure, instead of waiting for the government.
“I know that schools have no capacity to accommodate ECD pupils but it’s vital for these children to be in school at the age of four. They should start Grade One only after completing a two-year ECD programme.
“Schools should therefore engage their School Development Committees (SDCs) and communities to make sure that they raise funds to provide the facilities. We want our education programmes to be a success,” said Dokora.
The minister said the new system was vital as it equipped infants with a basic education foundation that prepared them for their later years in school.
He said: “These children pay school fees and that money should be channelled towards the provision of infrastructure for these new classes.”
Some schools have been left with no choice but to exceed their average enrolment limit to cater for more pupils.
Parents told The Chronicle that they were left stranded after being told that there were no vacancies for ECD pupils.
“I went to Baines Primary School in Northend during the third term last year seeking a place for my child and I was told to come back a week before schools open for the first term. I went back last week and I was told to come back on Friday. I did that but I was told my daughter couldn’t get a place because they were full,” said Angeline Nyathi, a parent who resides in Northend.
“I’m stranded and I don’t know what to do. I can’t take her to a pre-school because its expensive.”
Another parent, Ndumiso Sithole, said his child would have to wait another year to start school after he failed to secure a place at Thomas Rudland Primary School in Queenspark.
“I was made to understand that children should start school at the age of four but securing a place at our local school is not easy. I guess my daughter will have to wait until next year. I’ll make sure I secure the place for next year this year,” said Sithole.
An official at the school who requested anonymity said they had three Grade Zero classes with 50 or more pupils each.
“Normally, we should have a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:40, but we have 50 or more pupils in each class due to an overwhelming number of pupils that need places.
“While we wish to accommodate all the children who want to start Grade Zero classes, it’s impossible because we don’t have adequate facilities to cater for a large number of pupils,” said the official.
The official said many parents were still visiting the school seeking Grade Zero places despite being advised that the classes were full.
Pupils at the school, the official said, paid $100 fees per term, which is cheaper compared to $100 a month charged by most pre-schools.
Online Reporter