National schools infrastructure needs identified — Minister Minister Lazarus Dokora
Minister Dokora

Minister Dokora

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora has said that government undertook a schools mapping exercise that has revealed the national schools infrastructure needs that should be addressed.

He said the government was seized with the issue of schools infrastructure development that has opened opportunities for joint ventures.

Dr Dokora made the remarks while addressing delegates at the ongoing conference for National Primary School Heads (Naph) on Tuesday night.

“As a strategy and follow up to the infrastructure conference held last year, the ministry is creating opportunities for joint venture partnerships to accelerate the construction of the requisite schools infrastructure,” said Dr Dokora.

The minister emphasised that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) should be embraced starting with infant education.

He also commended Naph for the efforts in running schools’ sporting activities.

He said the government has accelerated efforts to improve the quality of physical education and range of sporting codes taught at infant, junior and secondary schools across the country.

He said his ministry is working in conjunction with Ministries of Sport, Arts, and Culture and Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment on the improvements.

“As you may be aware, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is working closely with the Office of the President and Cabinet’s department for Liaison on Psychomotor activities in education with a common focus of making sure that every learner acquires practical skills for self-sustenance, employability and employment creation later in life,” he said.

“This shows the importance that our government has placed on empowerment through skills acquisition during one’s school years.”

The minister said arts and cultural activities were also critical areas for socio-economic development. He said it was important to give such subjects more focus and time like other subjects.

“These are areas which the pending curriculum review will tackle head on,” he said.

Dr Dokora said his ministry has proposed a re-categorisation of schools into small, medium and large basing on enrolment among other issues.

He said small schools are those with enrolments of up to 499, medium schools, 500 to 999 and large schools, 1,000 and above.

“This category is part of the information that will inform discussion with the employer, the Civil Service Commission on the way forward regarding the concern of the head to head policy,” said Dr Dokora.

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