adminRobin Muchetu Senior Reporter
SCHOOLchildren in Matabeleland North have been encouraged to take education seriously as it is their only liberator instead of leaving for other countries to do menial work while others further their education.Former Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa Cde Phelekezela Report Mphoko said this during a donation of Science, Mathematics and English text books to Somvubu Secondary School and Mangubeni High School in Inyathi last week.
Ambassador Mphoko’s visit was the first stop in a provincial tour that will see him donate a consignment of 17 tonnes of books to at least three secondary schools in each of the 13 constituencies in the province.
The books were sourced at a cost of R145 000.
“Education is a vital part of your lives and you have to take it seriously as it is the only thing that can get you out of poverty; so when you have the opportunity to learn take it seriously as time lost can never be regained again,” said Ambassador Mphoko.
He told pupils and parents that all the pupils needed to know about what was happening around them was hidden in books and they needed an education so as to help themselves.
“Everything around us is science; there are possible cures to diseases such as HIV in the vegetation around us but if we are not familiar with science we will never discover them hence I have brought in a lot of science books for you to use,” he said.
Ambassador Mphoko, who was accompanied by Bubi legislator Cde Clifford Sibanda, said he was touched by the number of pupils from Nkayi in Matabeleland North who were failing to enrol at university.
He said from the time the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) was constructed, there had always been a gap in that there were no students from Nkayi as they did not have science schools for Advanced Level which restricted them from furthering their education.
“I once read a newspaper article some years ago when I was in the Nkayi Development Association where the pass rate for Mat North was 19 percent and I was worried that students from this end were not receiving adequate education due to lack of text books especially in science such that they do not pass to enrol into places like Nust,” he said.
Cde Sibanda said he was overwhelmed by the donation as he never expected that a huge consignment would come to his constituency.
“I never imagined the Ambassador would bring such a huge donation. I am grateful for this gift to the students and it is now the duty of the schools to have teachers who teach these core subjects and also introduce Advanced Level to some of the schools,” he said.
Ambassador Mphoko said the donation he made was set to benefit the whole province with all 13 constituencies receiving books and he would tour all those constituencies.
The education officer for Bubi district, Ms Virginia Sibanda, challenged the schools to start A-level classes so that pupils could enrol in science universities.
“Schools now have to aim higher and start A-level so that students get to go to Nust and Lupane State University. Parents should also avoid making children miss school to go to the grinding mill, it affects performance greatly,” said Ms Sibanda.
She encouraged slow learners to be taught practical subjects and start projects that would empower them when they complete school and discouraged parents from preparing the girl child for child bearing and marriage only but to ensure they have a professional qualification.
Online Reporter