The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
PRESIDENTIAL Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo, has implored stakeholders to join hands and upgrade Katsenga Secondary School in Makoni West into a high school and expose its pupils to on-demand sciences at a young age.
The school, which is about 50km on the outskirts of Rusape, recently suffered a major setback in its quest for A-Level status when strong winds ruptured the roof of the an A-Level Science Laboratory that was nearing completion.
The school started constructing the A-Level Science Laboratory four years ago, with parents contributing locally available materials like bricks, concrete stones, pit and river sand as well as labour.
When they thought they were through, the roof was blown off by wind.
The school is charging pupils a Science Levy of $36 which has been rendered insignificant by inflation.
It is a set condition that a secondary school wishing to be upgraded into a high school should first establish a Science Laboratory.
Given the current, competitive status of the global market and changing trends in economic needs, there is an increased demand for qualified personnel in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics related fields, and there is need to ensure that pupils at rural schools are not left behind.
To adequately prepare the next generation of Zimbabweans to compete for these careers, their education must instil, both interest and proficiency in these learning areas at a young age.
Though sciences form an integral part of the new curriculum, there is a severe gap in access to these educational benefits for pupils in rural areas, and the implications of not affording equal Science education opportunities to all pupils is reckless for a society that hopes to regain and expand its economic and intellectual foothold.
It is against that background that Dr Gumbo rallied local authorities, parents, responsible authorities and the corporate world to use funds at their disposal to upgrade rural schools like Katsenga.
Dr Gumbo was touring a Computer Laboratory established through the benevolence of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, under the eighth 100-Day Cycle Programme.
The school converted one of its blocks into a Computer Lab housing 40 laptops, projector, printer and WiFi in a Government gesture aimed at promoting smart education in rural areas.
“I have been informed that strong winds recently blew off part of the school’s roof. I, therefore urge inspectors, responsible authorities, local authorities and parents to collaborate in ensuring that contractors put up resilient infrastructure at institutions of learning.
“I have also been presented with a priority list that include roofing sheets for the senior Science Laboratory, projector, solar system as power back-up, furniture, security fence and maintenance of the seven kilometre access road to the school, and I will be engaging my colleagues in Government, and other stakeholders in order to attend to these urgent requirements,” said Dr Gumbo.
Pupils from Katsenga area travel an average of 18km to either Rukweza or Nyakuipa high schools for A-Level studies.
Most of them end up squatting in illegal boarding structure mushrooming in the villages.
Following the plea by the minister, Makoni Rural District Council chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise said they have a facility to assist public institutions destroyed by natural disasters.
“We have assisted several schools, and this school can also benefit under the same facility if we get their request. We do not select if the school belongs to the church, Government or council, we have a directive to assist all schools affected by natural disasters,” said Dr Pise.
