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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government has embarked on a $1 million school construction project in Lupane, Matabeleland North as it moves to address the shortage of schools in the country. The building of the new Lupane Government Primary School is part of the construction of an additional 2,056 schools required around the country under the school infrastructure programme, to improve education standards and reduce walking distances by school children, especially in rural communities.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora was at the construction site in Lupane on Wednesday to assess progress. He said the project was part of the deliverables under Zim-Asset to address the shortage of schools and accommodate all school-going children. Minister Dokora expressed satisfaction with the progress, saying the school would be functional by mid February next year.

“A Chinese company won the tender to build the school in Lupane, which is one of the many schools that will be built in Matabeleland North province and the rest of the country. “The project started in September and I’m happy with the progress so far. I’m certain that they’ll hand over the school to the government in mid February as they’ve promised.

“The school has a huge ICT laboratory as well as sports fields. We have engaged the local authority to make sure that teachers’ houses are also available at the school. So far there are six houses that have been rehabilitated to accommodate the Chinese people working on the project but they will be made available to the teachers as soon as they have completed the project,” said Minister Dokora.

He said the ministry had started subtracting the number of schools required in the country, with 19 schools having been built under the first phase of the school infrastructure programme. Most resettlement areas in the country do not have enough schools and are being served by satellite schools, most of which do not have adequate infrastructure.

The country has a deficit of 2,056 schools, 1,252 being primary schools and 804 secondary schools. The construction of the schools is also in line with Zim-Asset under the Social Services and Poverty Eradication Cluster where the government seeks to improve the quality and increase access to education and training at all levels.

The government has over the years been facing hurdles in building new infrastructure owing to economic challenges. Minister Dokora is on record saying the government alone cannot bridge the gap in schools. He has been imploring development partners, including the private sector to help cope with the pressure, and emphasising the need to maintain high education standards.

Matabeleland North is one of the worst affected provinces, with pupils in some resettled areas walking long distances of up to 20 kilometres to and from school and conducting lessons in makeshift classrooms and under trees.

The province’s education director, Boithatelo Mnguni has said the province had did not have adequate classrooms, teachers and other resources, a challenge that has compromised the quality of education in the province.