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Cde Cain Mathema

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Bureau
THE Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province, Cde Cain Mathema, has challenged schools in the country to commercialise and move away from the dependency syndrome.

Cde Mathema said in the long run, schools can contribute towards food security in their communities and cater for pupils in times of drought if they venture into meaningful agriculture.

Speaking at the ongoing Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) 35th national annual conference here, Cde Mathema urged learning institutions to move away from always expecting handouts from the government and well-wishers.

He said there are 767 schools in Matabeleland North Province and if all of them are capacitated with water projects, they could fulfill one of the goals of ZimAsset by ensuring food security.

The provincial Affairs Minister said quality education was only possible when schools have adequate facilities that can be realised if schools start viewing themselves as businesses.

“Quality education can only be attained through quality delivery system. That quality delivery system should emanate from quality earned by teachers,” said Cde Mathema.

He said quality education was not attainable at schools that lack basics such as clean water and ablution facilities.

“Quality education can’t be attained with schools that use bush pumps. All schools must have piped water and flushing toilets and this is a policy we are enforcing now for all new schools.

Recently, I commissioned such a facility at Saba High School in Binga and we have done such in Tsholotsho schools.

“Schools should be a business and each school should at least engage in agriculture and employ a farm manager.

We want our schools to commercialise and have a paradigm shift which is why we are pushing for piped water so they move away from waiting for handouts,” said Cde Mathema.