The Sunday Mail
The expansion of educational infrastructure requires concerted effort from all Zimbabweans and the Government to ensure accessibility of education to children, especially those in farming communities, education stakeholders have said.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education announced recently that the country was facing a massive shortage of schools requiring an additional 2 056 learning institutions.
Commercial farming areas are the hardest hit by the schools deficit with most pupils being forced to travel an average 6 km to and from school daily.
Veteran educationist Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said Government should set aside a budget allocation dedicated to construction of new schools.
“I feel disappointed that 34 years after independence we have a deficit of more than 2 000 schools,” said Dr Ndlovu.
“The country’s population is growing and so should the education sector.
“Infact, a number of schools we had during the struggle have better infrastructure compared to the ones in our farming areas.”
University of Zimbabwe lecturer in the department of technical education Dr Peter Kwaira told The Sunday Mail last week that society should move in to assist Government in arresting the deficit.
“The issue of the shortages of schools is not only a Government issue, but an issue which needs to be addressed by all the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Society needs to work hand in glove with the Government to ensure we defend the country gains in providing quality and accessible education.
“We also need our schools to provide high quality education beginning with the ones that already exist and also the ones which are to be established.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu argued that Government should focus the bulk of its investment on developing education.
“Many children from A1 and A2 farms and resettlement areas are failing to access education as some of the schools are 7 to 10 kilometers away. This is affecting the quality of education in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Ndlovu.
“When we say we need more schools it also implies that we also need more teachers.
“If schools are overcrowded they will also lack quality tuition and that will be detrimental to the education system of Zimbabwe.
“Government should invest heavily in education, but this also applies to the society in general as well.”
