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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau

THE Government has completed the construction of a state-of-the-art primary school in Gokwe North, part of the Second Republic’s first 17 schools in marginalised areas earmarked under the Better Schools Programme.

Gokwe North District Development Coordinator, Mr Martin Musakanda, said the new school called Budiriro Primary, was one of the Second Republic’s major scores as it will help change the lives of school children in the area who had been travelling for 30km to the nearest school.

“The school is now complete and ready for commissioning. It is a major relief to the pupils around, they have been walking over 30km to and from school,” he said.

The community has been grappling with high rates of school dropouts.

But the new school, which has high quality furniture, solar power, running water and a modern flashing system, is expected to motivate learners.

Mr Musakanda said given the way it was constructed, the school will lure both pupils and teachers who for long, have been shunning Gokwe.

Before Government took over construction of the school, learners were using pole and dagga structures for their lessons while some conducted lessons in the open.

The local legislator, with the help of the community, had initially constructed one classroom block before Government took over.

School deputy head, Mr Tizai Fambeki, said the school was started in 2011.

“We started this school in 2011 as a satellite school for Mashame Primary school. This means we were not allowed to sit for examinations. We had shades made by parents where children would attend classes from.

“It was in 2014 when we constructed our first classroom block with the help of the local MP, using the Constituency Development Fund. The Government then took over in 2016 with proper construction starting in 2017,” said Mr Fambeki.

He thanked Government for the efforts in ensuring the school was completed.

Villagers said the new school was a welcome development as it would help their children who used to walk for 15km to the nearest school.

“This weighed heavily on their general performance in class,” said Mr Morebrain Moyo, a villager.

Another villager, Mrs Abigail Nyanga, said the area used to be a conservancy and some of their children were previously attacked by wild animals while walking to school.