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Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
THE DEPUTY Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavima has said there were about 1,500 pole and dagga schools in the country which must be improved.
He called upon the private sector to complement government’s efforts in coming up with proper learning structures.
Prof Mavima on Wednesday said some schools, mostly in resettlement areas, do not have appropriate classrooms and lessons were at times being conducted in tobacco barns or structures built using mud and grass.

He was speaking after the official opening of Molo Primary school in Bubi, Matabeland North Province.
“The country has 1,500 schools which need to be properly built. Government provides funds for the construction of 60 schools a year. The funds are however insufficient as some old schools also need renovations,” said Prof Mavima.

He said government is courting private investors who can partner it to develop schools’ infrastructure.
“I believe the concept of private public partnerships can also be implemented in social services. It’s a new idea worth pursuing as resources will hardly ever be enough to solve all the challenges we face,” he said.

The unsuitable structures have been identified as a factor that negatively affects the learning environment, contributing to poor performance by pupils.
The deputy minister urged the business community to play its part in the improvement of schools infrastructure to transform the lives of the communities.

“Companies should come in and serve communities instead of only exploiting natural resources within the communities. Building a school changes lives, they must aim to change the lives of the communities they operate in,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Bubi lawmaker Cde Clifford Sibanda said his constituency has 20 schools that are in a deplorable state.
He bemoaned that mining and farming companies were failing to properly build schools in areas they operate in.

“As you know Bubi has farms and mines and studies have shown that these companies do not assist communities to have proper infrastructure a scenario that should not be allowed to continue,” said Cde Sibanda.