The Chronicle
28 October 2011
The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture is lobbying the Government to build more schools in Bulawayo to reduce congestion at the city’s schools and improve the quality of education.
In an interview on Tuesday, Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Dan Moyo said the city was in need of additional schools especially in the new suburbs.
“We are doing our bidding for money to build more schools in the city in year 2012,†said Mr Moyo.
“We need new primary and secondary schools especially in the new suburbs such as Cowdray Park, Pumula South and Emgawnini.
“For instance we need two secondary schools in Hlalani Kuhle houses in Cowdray Park and another one in Pumula South. However, we are not in a position to say how much is needed as we are not sure how much Government will give us.â€
Mr Moyo said there was a need for Government to expedite the completion of ongoing construction work of schools in the city to ensure that pupils were well catered for.
“There is a need to complete the outstanding construction projects in schools in order to ease congestion,†said Mr Moyo.
“I am glad that the Government early this year availed funding for the renovation of 10 schools. Some of the schools we have renovated include Amhlope Secondary School in Pumula East and Cowdray Park Secondary School.
“Funds have also been availed for the completion of Mncumbatha Secondary in Nkulumane Two, Emgawnini Primary and Emganwini Secondary.â€
Mr Moyo said most pupils in the new suburbs were walking long distances to get secondary education.
Most schools in the city adopted hot sitting in order to accommodate more pupils due to shortage of classrooms.
Bulawayo residents have also expressed concern over the issue and blamed the development for poor performance.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Senator David Coltart has also echoed the same sentiments saying there was a need to build more schools in the city to ease hotsitting.