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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

A remarkable tale of perseverance and community-driven progress has seen the completion of  the Better Schools Resource Centre offices at Maphisa in Matobo district.

It was on 19 March in 1999  when the late national hero, Matabeleland South Governor Stephen Nkomo, laid the foundation stone for the envisioned resource centre.

The passage of time seemed to cast a shadow over this ambitious project as year after year witnessed negligible progress in the construction work. It wasn’t until the year 2018 with the coming of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa that a concerted and resolute push was initiated to breathe life into the dormant project.

This accelerated the construction of the offices leading to their completion this year.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education yesterday proudly unveiled the fruition of these tireless efforts, an embodiment of efficiency, functionality and cost-effectiveness — the new Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe District Resource Centre.

With a resolute focus on cutting down burdensome rental expenses, these new offices stand as a beacon of prudent resource management by the Government.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela, who was represented by the Ministry’s chief director Curriculum Development and Technical Services Mr Cyprian Masocha commissioned the centre built at a cost of US$120 000.

The building will house seven school inspectors, two human resources assistants, one accountant and a hall to accommodate 150 participants and a boardroom for 20 people among other offices.

The 112 schools in Matobo district contributed to the construction of the resource centre, a development which Mrs Thabela said speaks to the national vision where locals are at the centre stage of their development agenda

“This demonstrates that Matobo is aware of the Ministry’s core business which is to offer Access to Quality and Relevant Education to all by 2030. I would also like to congratulate all the management at district level for being focused and results oriented,” said Mrs Thabela.

“I further congratulate you for being innovative and progressive in ensuring such a high standard of building is completed on time despite the Covid-19 pandemic shut down of virtually every institution in 2019-2022.”

She said it was encouraging that schools are innovating to respond to disruptive shocks that impact on education.

Mrs Thabela said the district has embraced national interventions such as online, radio, distance and e-Learning programmes, measures that ensure that education is not suspended.

She said so far 27 primary schools have installed solar power while 24 of them are connected to internet services.

Mrs Thabela said this resonates with President Mnangagwa’s vision to promote 21st century skills through education.

“Let me once again hasten to say that the BSPZ development resonates well with our drive for Information, Communication Technologies (ICT) enabled education across the entire country. Through the BSPZ Resource Centres, the ministry will ensure that all barricades to the digital agenda for the education sector are resolved. Let’s therefore ‘Embrace Digital skills in our schools,” said Mrs Thabela.

She said schools should impart digital skills to pupils, ensuring that learners adopt science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) oriented subjects from infant to advanced level.

“Through this resource centre, 112 schools will be easily coordinated to facilitate the realisation of the vision of ‘a prosperous and empowered upper-middle income society by 2030,” she said.

Mrs Thabela said investing in the education sector is key to securing the future for generations to come.

“Education remains as one tool that transforms peoples’ lives for the better. It is the bridge that many people use to help themselves, their families and communities. By investing in such education infrastructure including schools, we are demonstrating that we now value education for the good of the nation,” said Mrs Thabela.

She said the importance of education has seen Government dedicating up to 30 percent of the national budget towards the sector.

Mrs Thabela said plans are on course to construct Resource and Innovation Centres and Hubs in every district as part of the strategies to improve teaching and learning strategies in schools.

She called for public private partnerships to address infrastructural challenges within the education sector.

“As I have already indicated, safe and sound infrastructure offers resounding benefits to both learners and teachers.

Crowded offices and dilapidated infrastructure is a cause for concern in the 21st century, hence the need for PPP investment in this sector,” she said.

“It is therefore worth underlining that District Resource Centres are indeed critical in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”

Mrs Thabela said the facilities will serve as training and capacity building centres for both teachers and learners, leadership, education partners, production and distribution of teaching and learning materials.

She said the resource centre  will also enhance the implementation of the competence-based curriculum.

The commissioning of the building was witnessed by provincial and district education officials from Matabeleland South and community leadership among others. — @nqotshili