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Herald Reporter

Schools with low intakes in Mashonaland Central are being converted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education into low-cost boarding facilities to help children from marginalised communities who are travelling long distances.

This new initiative will help learners, especially girls, have a boarding place at an affordable fee.

Some learners mostly in Mbire, Rushinga, Shamva and Muzarabani had resorted to “bush boarding”, renting houses close to schools, during times of examination, but these informal boarders, especially the girls, become vulnerable to abuse.

Acting deputy provincial education director Dr Themba Mangwiro said plans are in motion to have at least four low-cost boarding facilities in each of the eight districts.

Chifamba High School in Guruve had set aside a house to accommodate girls coming from faraway places, but the school has since applied to be turned into a boarding school.

“We have approved the application by Chifamba High School. Dotito High School already has a low-cost boarding facility, but we are encouraging them to become a full-fledged boarding school to benefit girls,” said Dr Mangwiro.

“We also have Chapanduka High school in Rushinga. We have Nyakasikana High School in Chesa, Mt Darwin, whose enrolment is low. Nyakasikana school currently has a low intake should be turned into a low-cost boarding to absorb learners from other districts who are still travelling long distances to school.

“Farming areas are the most affected because the settlements are scattered. We cannot establish schools where there are no people.”

The ministry is also fast-tracking the registration of satellite schools and private colleges to increase access to education. There are more than 100 primary satellite schools and 85 secondary satellite schools in the province.

“We have wavered some requirements to make it easy for satellite and private schools to register,” he said.

“The demand for schools is ever increasing. We have sprouting settlements due to an increase in population and satellite schools are established.”

According to the circular, the requirements for registration are two-by-two classroom blocks, an approved site plan from the Ministry of Local Government, authority to construct the school and adequate accommodation for staff in at least one staff house.

Also adequate hygiene facilities and a strongroom for the safekeeping of examination papers.

Dr Mangwiro said the process will take at least a week and papers are sent to their head office for approval.

Communities should initiate the development of schools in their areas because they know their needs.

“The quality of education and curriculum is the same in all areas. The only difference among schools could be infrastructure,” he said.

“Some people send their children to already developed areas instead of initiating developments where they are.”

Speaking at a meeting organised by the National AIDS Council, the council chairperson for Shamva Rural District Council said 34 learners dropped out of school last year.

He said due to the long distance to school some parents end up renting rooms for their children near schools, exposing the children to abuse.

Mrs Mildred Nyamhunga said she is accommodating three learners coming from districts in the periphery of the province at her house at Rushinga Growth Point.

“Within our community, we have a lot of learners from faraway places who are renting. Some of these children end up misbehaving because they are not staying with their parents,” she said.