Devolution funds help Kudyarawanza Primary School

MARONDERA- The Manyame Rural District Council in Seke district has moved in to swiftly address the classroom challenges at Kudyarawanza Primary by building two blocks that will help decongest the school whose structures have seen better days.

The school has more than 600 learners.

The two additional blocks will decongest the classrooms leading to a better learning environment. Most classroom blocks at the school are said to be more than 100 years old and most have been caught up with time as indicated by cracks in their walls.

The RDC moved in to avert further potential disaster after one of the blocks collapsed following some heavy rains in the area. The collapse of the classrooms resulted in a shortage of space.

The school has channeled part of the devolution funds towards the construction of the two-classroom block and the structures are now 90 percent complete.

Last week, the Manyame RDC executive visited the school to assess the progress that has been made with regards to the construction of the block.

The rural authority’s chief executive officer Farirai Gutu said the council will remain committed to improving the learning standards of pupils in their area of jurisdiction.

“We are bound to even construct buildings at schools which are resistant to climate change. This will ensure the safety of learners and staff. We are glad that we are constructing this block using devolution funds. Our aim is for our learners and teachers to have safe and comfortable classrooms,” she said.

Some of the guardians and parents whose children are learning at the school hailed the Government for availing funds to the rural local authority as that led to the construction of the two-classroom block.

An elderly woman who identified herself as Gogo Jenje added that despite the construction of the imposing block, there were also more infrastructural developments that needed to be carried out at the school.

“I would like to commend what has been done by the Government led by President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa in assisting in the construction of this classroom block. I am an elderly person in this community and over the years, I have been seeing what has been going on and as promised by the Second Republic, another block is being constructed to complement those that are already in existence.

“However, it is also my wish that more classroom blocks be constructed at the school so that it accommodates more learners from various villages. The same goes for teachers’ houses,” she said.

Thomas Kariwo, another parent interviewed by Chaminuka said over the years, a shortage of classrooms and the state of those remaining at Kudyarawanza School had resulted in most parents withdrawing their children from the school.

He said: “Those are challenges that have been addressed by the Government and as a community, we are happy about that. Some blocks at this school are in bad state and some parents and guardians have been transferring their children to other schools where there are better facilities.

“This means that there is a need for more, modern classroom blocks to be constructed at the school. The council made a timely intervention, for sure.”

Manyame RDC Ward 18 councilor, Portia Madziwa hailed the Government’s gesture, adding that it will go a long way in improving the environment in which pupils learn.

Madziwa said: ““This school is strategically positioned and we have some learners from Ward 18 Chitungwiza South coming here. The same goes for others from Ward 19 of Manyame RDC and surrounding areas. Since there has been a serious shortage of classrooms at this school, I would like to make it clear that we have been humbled by the stance taken by the council to channel devolution funds towards the construction of a classroom block here.

“I would also like to commend our council for the part which it has played towards the construction of this classroom block. Our appeal is for more funds to be availed towards the construction of more blocks.”