By Beverly Bizeki
In an attempt to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio in council schools, Masvingo City is proposing to establish another primary school near Ndarama High School in the city.
This was revealed in the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee meeting minutes dated May 16, 2024 whereby it was noted that council was going to assess the feasibility of a piece of land near Ndarama with the teacher-pupil ratio at Vurombo Primary said to be above council targets.
“It was reported that the recommended Teacher-Pupil ratio was 1:40. The committee noted that council schools were within the recommended target except Vurombo Primary School. The committee queried the feasibility of creating a primary school stand near Ndarama High School along Charumbira Street.
“It was reported that the proposed site may not meet the minimum land requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The Acting Director of Engineering Services was instructed to assess the feasibility of the piece of land near Ndarama High School for a primary school site and refer to the Public Works and Planning Committee for consideration,” read part of the minutes.
Vurombo Primary is said to have an enrolment of 1 792 learners against 33 teachers giving a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:54 while the other five primary schools across the city have their ratios within the stipulated range.
Masvingo City Mayor Councilor Alec Tabe said council had a mandate to improve infrastructure development among their schools.
“We are yet to come up with a proper site but we want to be able to decongest the movement of learners, most are going to Vurombo Primary but the teacher-pupil ratio is now too high. There is also need for having another school across the bridge to cover suburbs like Rhodene, Rujeko and Eastvale,” said Tabe.
The local authority recently established Rujeko Secondary School to bridge the infrastructure gap caused by the absence of a secondary school in Rujeko. The school opened its doors in February 2022 and has an envisaged capacity of 600 pupils although it currently has three intakes.
