Secondary setback
Ranganayi Zimunya
Travelling long distances in search of greener education pastures and missing a series of important lessons at school describes the state of secondary school students in Ivodale ward 9 Goromonzi North constituency.
Almost forty years after independence Ivodale in Goromonzi situated less than 100km from Harare still does not have a secondary school for the convenience of primary school graduates. Children in the village are forced to walk distances of as far as 18km to 30 km in search of secondary education.
Paul Kapembesa a villager and also a parent said their children are failing to attend some of the morning first lessons because of the long distances they have to walk day each school day. Secondary education is regarded as the foundation in ushering one to his or her career.
“As a parent I feel for our children for they are walking long distances which is unhealthy for them. The nearest school from our village is Chabwino Secondary which is 18km away. Some of our children walk as far as 26 km to Nyava and 30km to Rutope Secondary Schools. Safety of our children remains uncertain for there no transport to ferry them to these schools, he said.
Mr Kapembesa said the commuter omnibuses that going to Harare are not keen on student passengers as they pay less. “Kombis that operate along the highway from Harare are refusing to carry school children for they pay less and they require full tickets”
Ivodale ward 9 councilor Charity Tambara said there is an initiative to build a secondary school in the community. This if it comes to pass will definitely be a welcome move.
“A project to build a secondary school is underway, the area has been pegged and the bricks for the first stage are at the cite ready for work, we are waiting for a few materials to kick start the project”
Cllr Tambara is part of the 19 female councilors from in and around Harare who recently attended a Community Radio Harare, Hivos, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zacras workshop to enhance social media skills and visibility of female councilors. The workshop ran with the theme local women-local voices.
