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Sharon Chikowore Mashonaland West Bureau.
MOST satellite schools in Mashonaland West Province are recording poor pass rates in national examinations amid concern that the situation is compromising education in the province. There are 429 satellite schools — 232 primary and 197 secondary — in Mashonaland West Province, with several recording zero percent pass rates in the 2017 and 2018 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council exams.

Some of the schools, according to acting provincial education director for Mashonaland West Mr Gabriel Mhumha, have large enrolments of above 1 000 learners. Responding to enquiries by The Herald, Mr Mhumha said the low grades at these schools were due to resource constraints

“Most of our satellite schools have very poor results due to being poorly resourced, for example, the zero percent pass rates are mostly got in satellite schools,” he said.

In the 2018 Grade 7 national examinations, Mashonaland West had 13 satellite schools with zero percent pass rates.
The zero percent pass rates were recorded in five districts namely, Makonde (4), Sanyati (1), Zvimba (6) while Kariba and Hurungwe had one school each.

“In 2017 Ordinary Level examinations we had 47 satellite schools, both primary and secondary, that recorded zero percent pass rate,” Mr Mhumha said.

Mashonaland West has the highest number of satellite schools established after the Land Reform Programme at the turn of the millenium.

“Some satellite schools have very large enrolments of above 1 000 learners, yet substantive heads cannot be appointed in those schools.”