Chronicle EditorAndile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
SIHLENGENI Primary School in Matabeleland South has won $50 000 at a Unesco sustainability education projects competition.
The school in Umzingwane District, dubbed the green oasis, has already received the prize money.
The winning project was started in 1995 after the school received training in permaculture, a system of agricultural and social design, which draws on patterns and features in the natural ecosystem to develop and maintain the environment.
Learners, parents and teachers at Sihlengeni Primary School plant exotic and indigenous trees, grass, millet and maize. They also introduced ground cover to mitigate land degradation and deforestation. They have rehabilitated a forest and also kept chickens and pigs. Some of the food produced is used to feed infants with the rest being sold locally,” reads part of a statement on the Unesco website.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Lazarus Dokora spoke to the Chronicle from Paris where he accompanied the School Headmaster Mr Sibanga Ncube and the School Development Association Chairperson to receive the award.
The awards ceremony was held on Friday in the French capital.
Minister Dokora said the award was a confirmation of the brilliance of the country’s education system.
“This award is an excellent confirmation of the brilliance of our education system. They spoke very well about our education system on the world stage. Those outspoken in criticism on our system are now licking their wounds,” said the Minister.
He said the ministry was being praised by other education ministries across Africa.
“We are getting accolades from other African countries and this goes to show just how esteemed our education system is, it is world class,” said Minister Dokora.
The minister commended the school, the parents committee and the community for their role in developing the school project since 1995.
Speaking at the award ceremony, a beaming Mr Ncube said:
“Sihlengeni Primary School promotes inclusive and quality education, lifelong learning and gender equality through all of its activities.”
“Alongside a conventional curriculum, it offers formal and informal instruction in crop and animal husbandry, horticulture, cookery and ICT training. This often leads to students forming their own small-scale businesses when they leave school.”
He said the school got its initial funding for the project from small levies paid by parents.
“This new boost will go towards expanding existing agricultural activities with more plant and animal husbandry,” said Mr Ncube.
The prize is sponsored by the Government of Japan in partnership with Unesco.
@andile_tshuma
Online Reporter