STAFF WRITER
CHIMWALA villagers in Gwayi have expressed concern over the delay in the completion of a primary school.
Primary students at Gwayi’s ward 25 are learning in squashed and dilapidated classrooms at Sitshongo primary school.
Due to the snail pace in developing, Sitshongo, is still an anex to Fatima primary school, a venue that is also used by Grade 7 students for final examinations.
A visit to the school by The Zambezi Times news crew revealed a sorry sight of rural education standards.
So bad is the situation that some pupils conduct their lessons under a tree shade due to classroom shortages.
While other small squashed classrooms are being used, there is only one main block with two class rooms that at least gives a proper structure to the school, that has been literally shunned by many teachers.
Speaking to The Zambezi Times ward 25 councillor Kaulani Muzamba could not hide her worry over the state of the school.
“The situation is bad, we have been trying to bring resources together as villagers to make the school more suitable for learners. As it is you can see that it’s in bad state,” Muzamba said.
She added:” Unfortunately, we are not receiving much of the support from wellwishers let alone government. The block you see, we managed to build it on our own though with little support from outsiders here and there”.
The Zambezi Times also observed that teachers’ cottages were in shambles, a development that has seen teachers shunning the school.
Also, water problems for the school were exacerbated two years ago after a donated solar panel system used for pumping water was stolen.
On the new block, which the villagers have been trying to build, the councillor said the Member of Parliament for the area, Martin Khumalo only donated 20 bags of cement which is a far cry of what is need to complete the entire block.
The councillor also further noted that her effort to engage government and other authorities over the development of the school have yielded nothing thus far.
