The long walk to education in Tsholotsho
Providence Moyo
A shortage of educational facilities in Tsholotsho North has seen scores of minors walking long distances to the nearest schools. Such is the life of Mtshayeli learners under chief Matupula who have to walk 35 kilometres to the nearest secondary school.
Thulani Ndlovu, a resident said the status quo has disadvantaged children in the area as most are not able to proceed to secondary school level.
“Abantwana abanengi nxa besuka emfundweni yaphansi kabalayo intshukuntsho yokuya emfundweni yaphezulu ngoba isikolo sikhatshana ngakho abanengi bahle bathi besuka ku zinga lesikhombisa kumfundo yaphansi bahle bazitshele ukuthi sebeqedile isikolo ngoba imfundo yaphansi yiyo abakhula beyibona esigabeni.”
Another resident Joy Ndlovu said mitigation strategies are in vain especially where the girl child is concerned.
“Abantwana siyabacelela indawo zokuhlala emizini eseduze lesikolo kodwa kubalenkinga kwabangamantombazana ngoba abanye basuke sebehlukuluzwa ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo kuleyo mizi kodwa ngoba ucelile awusoze ubelawo amandla okulwisana lalokho kuhlukuluzwa ngoba uyisiceli ucina uthatha umntwana umekelise isikolo ahlale ekhaya azame ezinye izinto ezingamncedisa empilweni.”
Councillor of the area, Nomaqhawe Moyo said the situation complicates both the lives of children and parents where they have to compete with temporary families in the upkeep of children.
“Children at times find it difficult to settle in those temporary homes because of different cultures. Sometimes a child ends up caught in between two cultures.
There is pressure on the parents to meet the living standards of the other family when it comes to providing for the child so that they can fit in the other family . Scores of children in the area end their educational journey at primary level because they feel it is a burden to walk 35 kilometres to school. It’s worse for Form Ones who are too young to walk that far as they are just between 10-14 years old hence most of them prefer to stay at home or repeat grade seven.
The numbers at the secondary school (Kapane) have been dropping drastically with time. By the time they should be form four, the majority of enrolled children would have dropped out. Of those who complete Form Four, only a few score above 5 Ordinary Level subjects not because they did not work hard enough but the education is not easily accessible to them.”
Moyo revealed that children from Mpindo line in Ward 4 also suffer the same fate as they have to walk a long distance to Ngamo Secondary school.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Tsholotsho North constituency, Libion Sibanda said efforts are underway to improve Mtshayeli children’s access to education.
“Engagements are underway to find a solution to this but we have short and long term options. Short term options include availing a block for the Form Ones at Mtshayeli Primary so that when they finish their Grade Seven, they can just enroll for the next phase before advancing to Kapane secondary. Plans are also afoot to build a secondary school at Mtshayeli because the distance is unbearable for these children,” said the MP.
