The Sunday Mail
Kudzai Gezi, Upper Six Arts
St. Dominic’s School Chishawasha
St Dominic’s High students during their recent tour of The Sunday Mail Newsroom.
EARLY this month, I had the privilege to interview one of Zimbabwe’s finest, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education: Dr Lazarus Dokora during his visit to St Dominic’s School Chishawasha. Being with the minister was a truly humbling experience.
His humble and easy-going nature are something to commend and copy from. Despite holding such a big name, especially in contrast with me, a mere student, he still talked to me like a father would to a daughter. My aim was to ask him questions personal to St. Dominic’s School, which he will never be asked anywhere else. The interview was just two questions long, but in those two questions, I learnt a lot from Dr. Dokora.
My first question was, “As the minister of Primary and Secondary Education, what’s your general view of St Dominics as a school?”
His response was quite overwhelming, but true at the same time. The first thing he said was, “I appreciate Catholicism”. He went on to say that Catholicism is good as evident in the uprightness of the young girls at St. Dominic’s. He also said,” I hope that the girls will take that catholic commitment and uprightness with them when they leave St Dominic’s.”
As a vigorous activist for technical and practical-based academics, it is no surprise that he was very impressed by the school’s flourishing fowl-run and garden which provide chicken and vegetables for the school. He also commended the Dominicans’ holistic approach to education and the four pillars of Dominican education, especially that of study. He had all-positives to say about St. Dominic’s in his first answer.
My second question was simple; “What do you think needs to be improved in the school?” His response was helpful and true.
He noticed that the school has lots of land lying desolate. He raised a point that got my head full of ideas as to how the school could possibly put that land to good use. He even suggested an expansion of the school’s gardening and fowl-run projects.
The next thing he cited was that most of the subjects and focuses of schools seem very gender-based. The school’s curriculum offers only computer, Food and Nutrition and Fashion and Fabrics, subjects which are believed to be ‘suitable for girls only’.
He added that these practical subjects, when offered without other alternatives, constrain the school in achieving its full potential. He dared the school to use the space lying desolate to indulge in more daring practical subjects such as metal work and wood work.
He said that schools like St. Dominic’s are the reason why the government is looking at increasing gender equality-promoting technical disciplines in schools. Both boys and girls should be able to participate in practical subjects without feeling inferior or intimidated.
He highlighted that parents should take action and psychologically prepare their children for practical subjects such as woodwork and schools should also instill the importance of technical subjects in their students. His statement, “all children should be prepared to get their hands dirty,” perhaps, sums up his whole contribution. Next, he mentioned that the school’s hall is outgrown as well as the need for new floors in the school buildings.
He emphasized that tiles are very cheap and can be affordable for the school.
However, what the school really needs is a proper marketing strategy to the parents. His contribution was simple: parents, led by the school development committee, should take action.
Outside the interview, the minister also gave me a brief insight on some of the projects that ministry is looking into. For example, the ministry is looking at, energy saving techniques in schools by use of biogas instead of using electricity.
He said that in the near future, schools may be assisted with the installation of biogas plants and other electricity-saving devices such as solar geysers instead of electric geysers. The minister has a lot of hope in the future of Zimbabwean schools.
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