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Minister Dokora

From George Maponga in Masvingo
Government will soon start revamping infrastructure at more than 1 400 satellite schools countrywide after securing a US$23 million loan from China for education and health sectors.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora on Thursday said Government wanted to upgrade the makeshift schools that are common in resettlement areas.

In an interview on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on non-formal education held in Masvingo, Minister Dokora said:
“We have secured some funding from China which will be shared between the health and education sectors in the country. While we have not yet established how much of the money will come to education, I want to make it clear that we want to use our share to improve infrastructure at satellite schools.

“We have 1 425 satellite schools in Zimbabwe and we want them to go, they must be replaced by properly built schools with decent infrastructure and learning facilities.”

Minister Dokora said enrolment at Sabina Mugabe High School in Zvimba rose from 190 to 500 after its infrastructure was upgraded with the help from Mbada Diamonds.

He said the ministry wanted strategic partnerships with the private sector to improve schools’ infrastructure.
“We want concessionary loans. We want private players who give us terms under which they will give us financial assistance to improve infrastructure at our schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, Government has deployed educational psychologists to help more than 2 500 primary and secondary school children in Chingwizi holding camp, Mwenezi who were affected by flooding in Tokwe-Mukosi.