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Chipo Katsidzira Manicaland Correspondent
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has raised concern at the persistent power shortages which are affecting pupils studying technical subjects, particularly examination classes.

In an interview last week, Manicaland provincial education director Mr Edgar Shumba said thousands of pupils were being affected, especially in practical subjects like computer science, fashion and fabrics, food and nutrition, woodwork and metalwork which required electricity.

“It is not only the learning process that has been affected, but also in terms of administration,” he said. “If the power is off from 5am to 10pm, the setting of examinations like the mid-years is seriously affected because the responsible authority will not be able to set and print due to the load- shedding schedule.”

Mr Shumba said schools could not afford other alternative sources of energy to substitute electricity.

“The alternative is diesel or petrol, but both are not readily available,” Mr Shumba said.

He urged district administrators to engage Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) officials so that they are not affected everyday by the load- shedding.

“I would want to urge district administrators to talk to local ZESA authorities to see how far they can be assisted because a complete blackout is not user friendly,” he said.

Mr Shumba said internet had become a major source of information for learners, but power cuts had adversely affected the facility.