Push for more schools in Byo

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

Residents in Bulawayo are appealing for the construction of more schools to ease overcrowding at existing learning institutions.

They said the schools can no longer cope with the increasing population of pupils.

The Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube said more funds are needed for the construction of schools.

“We really need the devolution funds as you saw a school has 800 pupils from grade one to five. It’s a sign that we need more schools so more money is needed,” he said.

Currently, the Bulawayo City Council has 30 primary schools and one high school.

Vulindlela, which was officially opened in 2021 by the city council to decongest Tategulu, Mkhithika, Mgiqika and Cowdray Park primary schools in the suburb, has an enrolment of 895 Grade 1 to 5 learners.

The sprawling suburb has a population of about 25 000 residents.

About ZWL$114 356 155 under devolution funds has been availed for the construction of classroom blocks, caretaker’s house, toilets, septic tank, perimeter fence and supply of furniture at Vulindlela Primary School.

Vulindlela Primary School principal building officer Thembinkosi Ncube said schools in Cowdray Park were a distance away.

“There is a need for more schools on this side of Cowdray Park as other schools are a distance away. The enrolment we are currently having shows that we have to meet the needs of the community, “he said.

Meanwhile a report from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said ZWL$2.9bn was channelled towards the education sector targeting schools infrastructure.

The report also said the government is set to construct 35 schools.

Last year the government said it will construct 144 modern boarding schools countrywide to mitigate against the shortage of learning institutions. Zimbabwe has a deficit of 3 000 schools and boarding schools are overwhelmed with enrolments which has seen only 0,5% of learners being enrolled in secondary boarding schools.