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The Herald, March 31, 1979

PARENTS of pupils at Marjorie Sanders Infant School, Coghlan  Junior Girls’ school and Milton Junior School have voted overwhelmingly in favour of forming community schools.

Mr . Watson, chairman of the Coghlan council, said yesterday: “Out of the ballot papers we have received back from parents, 78 percent were for a community school.”

The poll was 46 percent. This low figure was attributable, he said, to a large number of parents whose children were in their last year at Coghlan, and obviously “their thinking is that conditions are not going to change during the next two terms”.

Milton Junior School parents were very much in favour of a community school, Mr Basil Sagar chairman of the advisory board, said.

In a 60 percent poll, 89 percent opted for a community school. Parents of Marjorie Sanders Infant School pupils were also in favour of a community school.

A recent ballot among parents of pupils attending Hugh Beadle Primary School showed they preferred to remain a high-fee Government School. Out of 187 votes cast, 133 wanted to change in status.

Our Midlands representative writes that parents of children attending the Que Que Junior School and the Lundi Park Primary School at Gwelo have strongly opted for their schools to remain high-fee-paying schools.

In each case polls, on the basis of one family one vote, were conducted by the parent body. The respective chairmen of the schools councils, Mr Louis Bennett and Dr Ian Campbell, both said they were not surprised at the poll results.

LESSONS FOR TODAY 

 Community schools are public schools that provide services and support that fit each neighbourhood’s needs, created and run by the people who know their children best – all working together.

 In Zimbabwe we have rural communities that have partnered Government officials such as Members of Parliament and institutions such as councils in building schools in their communities to lessen the distances that learners walk to school. 

This is complementing efforts by the Government to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

 Voting through secret ballot is one of the most democratic ways of decision making.