Overcrowding hits Masvingo schools Clr Fidze

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Schools in Masvingo city are grappling with serious overcrowding owing to a sharp rise in population in the country’s oldest city over the past few years with council planning to introduce an education levy to raise funds for building new schools.

The situation has forced the schools to introduce hot seating amid calls for council to construct more schools to meet demand.

Masvingo City Council runs Shakashe primary in Rujeko, Vurombo and Chikato in Mucheke, Francis Aphiri and Runyararo primary schools in Runyararo West suburbs where there is an average of 60 or more pupils per class.

There are only three secondary schools in the high density suburbs namely Ndarama, Mucheke and Masvingo Christian high schools.

Residents want council to build additional classroom blocks at exiting schools as a temporary measure to curb congestion while new schools are being planned.

Mayor councillor Hubert Fidze said council schools were failing to cope with the increase in student population.

“We have a serious challenge of overpopulation in council schools. I am told some schools have 60 pupils per class and they are taught by one teacher,” said Clr Fidze.

He said in some cases infants were being forced to start lessons in the afternoon owing to shortage of learning space.

“We have a situation where some Grade One pupils are forced to go to school in the afternoon for hot seating because they are too many.

“Schools that are worst affected are Shakashe and Runyararo primary. Runyararo school in particular has of late been forced to over-enrol to accommodate additional pupils from the newly established Victoria Range suburb while Shakashe is also being forced to absorb additional pupils from the new Rujeko C suburb,” said councillor Fidze.

He said his council has since resolved to urgently build new schools to ease congestion at existing learning institutions.

Councillor Fidze said an education levy would help council mobilise resources to build additional primary and secondary schools in the face of a surge in demand for school places.

Council was planning to build a secondary school in Rujeko in the short-term as the suburb had no such institution at the moment.

There are only four high schools in Masvingo city, which has an estimated population of over 100 000 people.

The population is serviced by only four schools in the city namely Victoria High School in Rhodene, Ndarama, Masvingo Christian College and Mucheke High School in Mucheke.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey