MBERENGWA – A collaborative effort involving the government, private sector, and development partners is making significant strides in modernising the education system in marginalised rural areas.

This initiative reflects the Second Republic’s commitment to opening up the economy and emphasizes education as a crucial driver of sustainable economic growth.

At the heart of this transformation is the government’s adoption of Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which aims to promote innovation, industrialisation, and the modernisation of communities through the production of goods and services tailored to local needs.

To support this vision, modern infrastructure is being rolled out to empower learners in both rural and urban settings.

Devolution Funds allocated to Local Authorities have played a pivotal role in enhancing educational infrastructure, resulting in the construction of classroom blocks and computer laboratories across various schools.

Notably, Masase Primary School in Mberengwa district has benefited from this collaboration, with a newly constructed classroom block funded by the government and supported by over US$18,000 from World Vision.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the classroom block, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, lauded the government’s ongoing commitment to providing modern educational facilities to rural communities.

He urged educators to fully commit to their roles in ensuring high pass rates, while also calling on parents to pay school fees, which are essential for maintenance and expansion efforts.

“… I implore teachers to fully assume their duties to ensure high pass rates at schools and also parents to pay fees to enable maintenance and expansion of the school. I urge learners to focus on their studies and desist from drug and substance abuse, early marriages, bullying, and dropping out of school to pursue short-term benefits,” he said.

In addition to educational infrastructure, the minister announced plans to assist Masase Primary School in acquiring an additional borehole to enhance water supply for its gardening project.

Across the Midlands Province, the government has successfully modernised several schools, including Neta Secondary in Mberengwa and Budiriro Primary School in Gokwe North.

Minister Ncube also highlighted the role of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities by providing electricity to public institutions. This effort is crucial in accelerating the modernisation and industrialisation of marginalised areas.

To date, REA has connected 956 public institutions in the Midlands Province. In Mberengwa District alone, 39 primary schools, 20 secondary schools, 12 clinics, 15 homesteads, one civil extension office, eight business centers, two homesteads, and 32 villages have benefited from these advancements.