New Secondary School for Tsholotsho North on the cards
Providence Moyo
Preparations for building a new secondary school at Elangeni, in Tsholotsho ward 1 are at an advanced stage, the area’s tradional leader has revealed.
Chief Siposo told Community Podium that the community decided to set up the new learning institution at 11 Line. The objective of this yet to be built school is to alleviate the financial struggles that parents in the area have had to grapple with over the years.
“As school fees continue to soar at Khumbula High and Samahuru, it is necessary to build another secondary school that is going to charge less than these two so that our children can also afford to attain secondary education,” he said.
He revealed that the community has raised USD $720 towards this dream and the work is expected to start in June.
According to the Chief, the raised funds will be used for pegging by the department of Physical Planning. “Once they are ready, they will advise us so that when they peg we also carry out a ground breaking ceremony,” said the Chief.
The traditional leader acknowledged that some parents in the area can afford to take their children to either Khumbula or Samahuru schools while others cannot afford but was quick to say that fees should not be a hindrance to children accessing their right to education hence the need for an affordable institution that will give some parents relief.
Khumbula High charges $150 for daily scholars and $600 for boarding scholars.
Ward 1 councillor Shelton Ncube lamented the long distances walked by learners to get to school that led to some parents seeking accommodation for their children closer to the schools.
“Umango mkhulu kakhulu obekusenza njengabazali sithathe abanye babantwana bethu sibahlalise emizini eseduze lezikolo ukwenzela ukuthi bafinyelele eskolo kodwa inengi lalabo bobantwana abasiqedi iskolo ngenxa yokungaphathwa kahle emzini abayabe becelelwe kuyo ngakho lokhu kuzasinceda kakhulu njengo ward 1 ukuthi sanelise ukuhambisa abantwana bayefika kuzinga abafisa ukuba kilo,” he said.
Njabulo Sibanda, a member of the community, said this project comes as a relief as it is bound to increase school attendance in the area. He added that some parents had opted to withdraw their children from school due to the long distances.
“Abantwana bethu abanengi bangafika ku banga lesikhombisa sekumele beyekele iskolo ngoba izikolo lezi zikhatshana, ma engasayekelanga kumele asiwe eboarding kanti thina sizihlalela emakhaya asisebenzi imali zakhona zizavela ngaphi zokuthi ngifake umntwana eboarding school.”
Lack of access to education is one of the major challenges faced by children in Matabeleland. According to UNICEF, around 89 per cent of children complete primary education, with only 15 per cent of all children completing upper secondary education.
