Pupils currently share 10 classrooms with an additional room lying empty because of a shortage of furniture. Every morning pupils jostle for a seat and spend the day under the African sky due to the absence of roofs on their rooms.
“We are currently facing an increased intake at lower levels,” said school Senior Master, Gilbert Sithole. “The intake for form one is growing rapidly and we currently have 97 pupils at this level.
The numbers seem to decrease as you go further up the school but we will not be able to manage in the years to come. A classroom of more than 35 pupils is congested and we need at least two more well furnished classrooms and a library.”
Six years ago, when the country nearly collapsed due to economical problems, the school’s electricity supply was disconnected and the situation is yet to be resolved.
“Our school has gone for six years without electricity. We have failed to raise the reconnection fee due to bills that accumulated during the 2007-2010 era.
When things were improving in the country our bill was converted to $6,000. We have tried everything in our power to raise these funds but with little success.
The situation has led to us suspending computer lessons in the school. Other subjects which are affected include Food & Nutrition and Physical Science.”
Headed by Birthwell Ndlovu and deputised by Memory Ncube, the school has 15 teachers and offers a total of 13 subjects.
According to villagers, most pupils stay at home during the summer and wet season, with some dropping out of school completely and joining the trek to South Africa.
Villager leaders say girls are worse affected, as they cannot endure the physical demands of walking long distances to school.
Post published in: News