The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
A TWO-CLASSROOM block which was funded to the tune of US$15 000 was commissioned at Tiya Secondary School in Chimanimani District last week.
Funded by Action Aid and Simukai Child Protection Programme, the project was aimed at alleviating shortages of classroom blocks in the Cyclone Idai ravaged area.
Before the March 2019 Cyclone Idai disaster, Tiya Secondary School was a satellite school to the Roman Catholic Church-run St Charles Lwanga Secondary School which was badly affected by the tropical storm.
St Charles Lwanga has since been relocated to another area in Chimanimani District, leaving Tiya Secondary School without enough classrooms to accommodate the pupils.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Chimanimani East legislator, Cde Joshua Sacco, said the opening of the classroom blocks will see more children accessing better learning facilities.
“The opening of the classroom block will result in the improving of the quality of education being offered at the school. When Cyclone Idai hit this area, President Mnangagwa declared a state of national disaster. Many organisations promised to come on board to help rehabilitating some of the damaged infrastructure. Some fulfilled their promise while others did not.
“The relocation of St Charles Lwanga Secondary School has put a lot of pressure on Tiya Secondary School as it now has to cater for some of the pupils who were affected by the relocation. We hope many partners will come on board and help in mitigating against some of the infrastructure challenges being faced by Tiya Secondary School,” said Cde Sacco.
Action Aid country director, Mr Joy Mabhenge, said new classroom block will improve the learning environment.
“The two-classroom block is expected to benefit at least 100 pupils. Shelter is one of the most important needs of a human being and against this background our organisation managed to raise US$50 000 which was distributed to 5 000 Cyclone Idai survivors.
“We want to thank our partners, Simukai for overseeing this project until its completion,” he said.
The school headmaster, Mr Ephraimu Mupuro, said more needs to be done to ensure that pupils have a conducive learning environment.
“Our pupils used to write their Zimsec national examinations at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School, but the school has since been relocated. This affected most examination classes for the past two years. We want this school to be made an examination centre and this can only be achieved if we have more infrastructure constructed,” he said.
Chimanimani District schools inspector, Mrs Alice Mayosha, said local schools in the district still need help to recover from the cyclones which frequently hit the area.
