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From Alexio Kazingizi in Chikomba

Herald Correspondent 

The Second Republic scored a first of its kind in schools infrastructural development, with construction of 17 state-of-the-art primary and secondary schools countrywide. 

The new schools include Makumimavi Primary School in Chikomba district, Mashonaland East, which is set to be commissioned next month by President Mnangagwa. 

The details emerged at a special meeting convened at Makumimavi Primary School recently by stakeholders who included provincial education director for Mashonaland East Province, Mrs Anatoria Ncube, director in the office of the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Muchemwa Mugwisi, the acting Chikomba District Development Coordinator, Mrs Monica Mutsimba-Chamboko. 

Government secured a US$20 million loan from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development, resulting in the dream come true for 15 districts in the eight rural provinces where the 17 schools have been constructed. 

Outstanding and final touches at Makumimavi Primary School would be completed within the next two weeks by a team of stakeholders nominated from Chikomba District, the provincial office and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education head office. 

The project scope of the model school includes quality houses for teachers, a round-shaped Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) block, four by two classroom blocks; a computer laboratory, a storeroom, a library, solar and electricity powered boreholes and flush toilets. The school is fully furnished with furniture for children, teachers and administrative staff, while the library and the computer laboratory are fully equipped.

One of the interactive boards in one of the classrooms to be fully equipped with Wi-Fi at the school.

The teachers’ houses would be soon fully electrified, with tap water available at the school expected to enrol between 500 to 600 pupils. 

The specialised classrooms would have interactive boards and wi-fi for enhanced learning. Some of the quick win projects to be undertaken by Makumimavi Primary School, according to stakeholders who attended  the meeting, include fishery, poultry, an orchard, piggery and a nutrition gardening. The school would have plenty of water for the projects and recreational ground space. 

Mrs Ncube told the stakeholders that the projects would augment the supplementary feeding programmes at the school. 

The irector at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Cyprian Kent Masocha, said the other 16 schools nearing completion countrywide included six secondary schools and 11 primary schools. They are located in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces. 

The Makumimavi Primary School project which is a step towards realisation of Vision 2030, would be the first school to be commissioned by President Mnangagwa.