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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MORE than 100 children whose parents are settled at Chingwizi in Mwenezi have allegedly dropped out of school citing long distances to and from school. The villagers numbering about 18,000 were moved out of Chingwizi transit camp to permanent sites where their children have to contend with long distances from their dwellings to school.

Apart from the long distances of between 15 and 20 kilometres, there is also shortage of teachers in the area.

Parents whose children attend Nyuni Primary and Secondary school as well as Tokwe Primary and Chingwizi Primary School said most children are no longer going to school because of long distances between their homes and the schools.

“The long distance involved between our settlement and the nearest school has negatively affected our children’s learning. Most of the times children report late at school due to long distances involved,” said Alfios Chekai with children attending Nyuni Primary School.

The school is almost 20km away and young children are finding it difficult to travel the long distance everyday.

“More than 100 children have dropped out of school because of the long distances travelled,” said Chekai.

Another settler John Kamurai called on the government to build schools close to their settlement.

“I think it’s the government’s responsibility to make sure that education is accessible. Of course my children are already at secondary school but I feel for them because of the distance involved.

There’s no time to study because when they arrive home, they will be tired. The situation has become dire now because of the onset of the rains,” said Kamurai.

Village head, Samuel Tsikisai Mubaira whose six children are attending Zunga Primary School said he was considering taking them back to their original area under Chief Shumba in Chivi where they can continue with education.

He described 2014 as a lost year for them in terms of education.

Mubaiwa said he has two children that sat for Grade Seven examinations and he feared they could have performed badly because of the long distances they were travelling to school and back.

“Covering 20km is no joke. To be precise it is 40 km because when they go, they will have to come back again. Some have since dropped out and it’s always a pity to see children of school going age spending time at home,” said headman Mubaira.

Efforts to get a comment from Masvingo provincial education director Zadeus Chitiga were fruitless as he was said to be attending a meeting.

Provincial Administrator Felix Chikovo also professed ignorance on the school dropouts.

However, a senior Plan International Zimbabwe official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the developments.

“We’ve received reports that more than 100 children at Chingwizi have already dropped out of school. We will make an effort to assist but not before we’ve consulted the relevant authorities,” said the official.