Cephas Shava
MWENEZI –
Children’s access to appropriate education is a constitutional right which the
government should honour.
Children’s access to appropriate education is a constitutional right which the
government should honour.
Section
19 (1) of the national constitution precisely specify that in matters relating
to children, the State ought to take
measures to ensure that their best interests are taken good care.
19 (1) of the national constitution precisely specify that in matters relating
to children, the State ought to take
measures to ensure that their best interests are taken good care.
However,
at Turf Primary School, which is located some 85km away from the
Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in Mwenezi district, the right to decent education
does not exist.
at Turf Primary School, which is located some 85km away from the
Masvingo-Beitbridge highway in Mwenezi district, the right to decent education
does not exist.
The
place is a microcosm of all that is wrong in this country; forgotten innocent
pupils who are completely hopeless of a brighter owing to the depressingly bad
conditions in which they find themselves.
place is a microcosm of all that is wrong in this country; forgotten innocent
pupils who are completely hopeless of a brighter owing to the depressingly bad
conditions in which they find themselves.
Located
in Ward 15 of remote Mwenezi West, Turf Primary School has for the past 17
years been conducting lessons under unimaginable conditions.
in Ward 15 of remote Mwenezi West, Turf Primary School has for the past 17
years been conducting lessons under unimaginable conditions.
While
government has become very good at shifting blame and giving excuses, one
wonders how any responsible authority with the slightest sense of
responsibility could shift blame on this one.
government has become very good at shifting blame and giving excuses, one
wonders how any responsible authority with the slightest sense of
responsibility could shift blame on this one.
Since
the schools’ inception in 2003, it has been operating without a single
classroom block and has consistently recorded a zero percent pass rate in grade
seven examinations as correctly reported by TellZim News in an earlier article
about conditions at the school.
the schools’ inception in 2003, it has been operating without a single
classroom block and has consistently recorded a zero percent pass rate in grade
seven examinations as correctly reported by TellZim News in an earlier article
about conditions at the school.
Many
have pointed an accusing finger at the government for the misery at Turf
Primary and other satellite schools established in the wake of the Land Reform
Programme.
have pointed an accusing finger at the government for the misery at Turf
Primary and other satellite schools established in the wake of the Land Reform
Programme.
The
school has not received any support from authorities ever since its
establishment despite being the only one available for hundreds of children in
the resettlement area.
school has not received any support from authorities ever since its
establishment despite being the only one available for hundreds of children in
the resettlement area.
The
understaffed school is seriously under-staffed and the Teacher-in-Charge (TIC)
Bernard Mahutse told TellZim News that only five teachers are available for the
368 pupils currently enrolled there.
understaffed school is seriously under-staffed and the Teacher-in-Charge (TIC)
Bernard Mahutse told TellZim News that only five teachers are available for the
368 pupils currently enrolled there.
During
lessons many pupils sit on the ground under makeshift structures built of
wooden poles and dagga with thatched roof.
lessons many pupils sit on the ground under makeshift structures built of
wooden poles and dagga with thatched roof.
There
seems to be no plan or even concern on the part of government which enjoys
taking all the credit for redistributing land to previously landless natives of
the land but does not want to account for its neglect of the social needs of
those resettled people.
seems to be no plan or even concern on the part of government which enjoys
taking all the credit for redistributing land to previously landless natives of
the land but does not want to account for its neglect of the social needs of
those resettled people.
In
an interview, Ward 15 Cllr Edson Chauke blamed the Ministry of Lands for
backtracking on pegging the school to make its site officially permanent.
an interview, Ward 15 Cllr Edson Chauke blamed the Ministry of Lands for
backtracking on pegging the school to make its site officially permanent.
“Conditions
at Turf are tragic to the future of our children as some of them are conducting
lessons in open spaces and they are always at the mercy of the weather. Owing
to the bad conditions, teachers do not stay longer at the school and this is
disadvantaging pupils,” said Chauke.
at Turf are tragic to the future of our children as some of them are conducting
lessons in open spaces and they are always at the mercy of the weather. Owing
to the bad conditions, teachers do not stay longer at the school and this is
disadvantaging pupils,” said Chauke.
In
a telephone interview with TellZim News, Mwenezi West legislator Priscilla
Zindari-Moyo acknowledged the difficulties at Turf Primary School.
a telephone interview with TellZim News, Mwenezi West legislator Priscilla
Zindari-Moyo acknowledged the difficulties at Turf Primary School.
“I
am not happy with condition at the school. I have been pushing for authorities
to speedily address the issues there. I have mobilised some locals and there
are structures that are already being worked on as we speak.
am not happy with condition at the school. I have been pushing for authorities
to speedily address the issues there. I have mobilised some locals and there
are structures that are already being worked on as we speak.
“After
publication of the issue in the media recently, I approached the Ministry of
Education and engaged with them on how best we can help. I am confident a
solution will be found soon,” said Zindari-Moyo.
publication of the issue in the media recently, I approached the Ministry of
Education and engaged with them on how best we can help. I am confident a
solution will be found soon,” said Zindari-Moyo.
In
this digital age, several primary schools across the country, especially those
in urban areas, are establishing e-classrooms and computer laboratories where
pupils access education materials digitally.
this digital age, several primary schools across the country, especially those
in urban areas, are establishing e-classrooms and computer laboratories where
pupils access education materials digitally.
Given
that there are several known primary school which are being funded by the
government with regard to those programmes, it is ironic some schools like Turf
Primary are not even being afforded the support to build mere classroom blocks
and furniture.
that there are several known primary school which are being funded by the
government with regard to those programmes, it is ironic some schools like Turf
Primary are not even being afforded the support to build mere classroom blocks
and furniture.
“To
us the blame game does not work but the truth of the matter is that government is
failing us and perpetuating all these problems. If they were serious about addressing
our plight, it we could be in a better situation by now.
us the blame game does not work but the truth of the matter is that government is
failing us and perpetuating all these problems. If they were serious about addressing
our plight, it we could be in a better situation by now.
“We
no longer see the value of sending our school children to Turf as nothing is learnt
there. We feel this is just wasting time and our hard earned money on fees and
uniforms. Since the school’s inception, there is not even a single professional
to emerge from that school. We are just grooming only cattle herds, child
brides and domestic workers due to the school drop-out rate. Many are migrating
to South Africa as illegal immigrants after dropping out of school,” said one
parent.
no longer see the value of sending our school children to Turf as nothing is learnt
there. We feel this is just wasting time and our hard earned money on fees and
uniforms. Since the school’s inception, there is not even a single professional
to emerge from that school. We are just grooming only cattle herds, child
brides and domestic workers due to the school drop-out rate. Many are migrating
to South Africa as illegal immigrants after dropping out of school,” said one
parent.
Other
parents said they appreciated the nobility of the Land Reform Programme but
feel that government did not follow it up with the requisite development of
social amenities like schools, hospitals and decent roads.
parents said they appreciated the nobility of the Land Reform Programme but
feel that government did not follow it up with the requisite development of
social amenities like schools, hospitals and decent roads.
Most
beneficiaries of the programme, therefore, are living in remote areas when
those areas could now be reasonably developed after all these years.
beneficiaries of the programme, therefore, are living in remote areas when
those areas could now be reasonably developed after all these years.
A
local war veteran said the neglect of the area was a disservice to the Land
Reform Programme.
local war veteran said the neglect of the area was a disservice to the Land
Reform Programme.
He
said it was outrageous that politicians only visit the area in the run-up to
elections looking for votes by making endless false promises.
said it was outrageous that politicians only visit the area in the run-up to
elections looking for votes by making endless false promises.
“We
are just looking forward to the government to urgently act on this crisis that
has gone for too long. During this rainy season, pupils do not go to school
because most of them conduct lessons siting on the ground under the trees.
are just looking forward to the government to urgently act on this crisis that
has gone for too long. During this rainy season, pupils do not go to school
because most of them conduct lessons siting on the ground under the trees.
“During
elections, politicians visit the area for selfish reasons and never honour
their promises afterwards,” said the war veteran.
elections, politicians visit the area for selfish reasons and never honour
their promises afterwards,” said the war veteran.
Mwenezi
district has a total of 172 schools 102 of which are such satellites as Bubi,
Nyuni, Dembe, Muvhoko and Vezvi.
district has a total of 172 schools 102 of which are such satellites as Bubi,
Nyuni, Dembe, Muvhoko and Vezvi.
