BY NALEDI DUBE IN MASVINGO
Shortages of schools in Chiredzi have negatively affected the education system in the district. School going children have to walk close to 10 km to nearest Primary and Secondary schools in the district. Chief Tshovani said the shortage of schools in Chiredzi is a major challenge as it contributes to school dropouts.
“Chiredzi is facing a critical shortage of schools with pupils failing to enrol in ECD as they walk for long distances to the nearest primary schools. We urge the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to build more schools in the district” said Chief Tshovani.
A number of schools in the district face water challenges as boreholes drilled in the area run dry as they were not sunk deep enough to match the water table.
“Water shortages is a major challenge in most schools in the district, as school going children have to walk for long distances in order to get water”
Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, said the Government has a strategy that will see every primary and secondary school being built in a radius of 5 km apart.
“As Government we are encouraging organizations to partner with the Government in order to build more schools in rural areas’ said Ndoro.