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Mthabisi Tshuma, Chronicle Correspondent
VILLAGERS in Sailor’s Hope Village in Bubi District have started a fundraising campaign for the construction of an administration block and teachers’ cottage at Esiphikeni Secondary School for it to be accorded examination centre status.

Because of lack of infrastructure, the school has failed to get recognition as an examination centre.

This has forced school children to travel over 40 kilometres to write public examinations at Somvubu Secondary School.

Ordinary Level students leave their homes for the duration of the examination period which normally runs for a month or slightly longer. Parents then pay for accommodation for the children

Bubi district Ward 14 councillor Cookie Moyo said the school services three wards but the infrastructure is inadequate.

“Ward 14 Bubi District has one secondary school which is Esiphikeni Secondary School that services seven villages and learners come from ward 10, 22 and 23 Bubi as well as parts of Umguza. The school has two classroom blocks but however it is not an examination centre because it does not have an administration block and teachers’ cottage,” said Clr Moyo.

She said they were seeking donations to build the required two structures so that the school gets examination centre status.

“The challenge is that as an annexe, O’level learners are forced to sit for examinations at Somvubu Secondary School in Inyathi. This is 45km away from the school thereby forcing parents to either rent for learners or give them money to commute daily.

“The challenge with this arrangement is that learners without parental supervision go astray,” said Clr Moyo.

She said some female pupils fall pregnant during this period while others abuse alcohol and drugs.

“This situation is putting pressure on the community because adverse results instead of positive ones are being reaped by the candidates,” she said.

Veteran arts administrator Mr Sihlangu Dlodlo who is a villager under Ward 14 concurred with Clr Moyo’s sentiments.

“The basic objective is to get the school to be an examination centre as the absence of a centre has turned to be a financial burden to parents. To help the school achieve the examination centre status, we are kindly inviting interested individuals and companies to help us as we are mobilising resources to build and realise this necessary objective,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“To those who want to help us they can do so by depositing their kind donation directly to Halsteds bank account and they can contact me on +263 77 251 4246, for the bank details.”-@mthabisi_mthire