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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

FOR the past four years, Cassy Nyathi, a Form Four pupil at Nyamandlovu Secondary School in Umguza District, Matabeleland North province, endured walking up to 30km daily to and from school. 

The strain of arriving at school late, tired and exposed to risks of abuse and bullying along the way,  made it impossible for her to perform well in class. Her plight summarises the hard experience of many learners from resettlement areas in Umguza district who were forced to walk long distances daily to and from school.

In response, the Government and its partners facilitated the construction of low-cost boarding facilities at two secondary schools in the district as part of measures to create a safe and conducive learning environment, especially for the girl child.

The schools that have so far benefited from the low-cost boarding facilities project are Mahlothova and Nyamandlovu Secondary Schools .

Each school has low-cost boarding facilities that can accommodate up to 34 learners and the boarding facilities at the two schools were commissioned yesterday.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Aids Council (NAC) and the Global Fund financed the construction of the boarding facilities.

This was after assessing the risks associated with children travelling long distances to and from school. 

The hostels have, among other facilities, a study room for the girls.

Speaking during the commissioning of the two hostels yesterday at Mhlothova Secondary School, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Richard Moyo, said the boarding facilities were a safe and conducive learning environment for the girl child.

“These boarding facilities will go a long way in reducing the risks associated with travelling long distances to and from school. We are all aware that travelling long distances exposes our innocent girls to a number of social ills such as rape, sexual abuse and bullying,” he said. 

Minister Moyo said the low-cost boarding facilities project was an extension of the “Dreams” modified project that is being implemented by Plan International and NAC with the funding from the Global Fund through UNDP.

“The project is targeting minor girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24. As we commission this wonderful work, I would like to call upon each and every one of you to acknowledge the progressive leadership of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa, under whose vision all this was made possible,”he said.

Minister Moyo said President Mnangagwa’s leadership and Government’s engagement and re-engagement policy, has seen communities benefiting from highly impactful projects including the low-cost boarding facilities.

He said protecting the girl child will reduce the risk associated with contracting HIV and Aids. 

“These two projects mark the beginning of a number of similar projects meant to ensure young girls access education without being exposed to social ills,” said Minister Moyo. 

He said the boarding facilities will not only improve the girls’ access to education but science has proved that keeping girls in school longer has a protective benefit as it reduces the risk of HIV infection. 

“Higher levels of educational attainment among young girls and young women are also associated with increased control over sexual and reproductive health and rights,” said Minister Moyo.

He said school authorities should ensure that students who live furthest from the school are prioritised for boarding.

Matabeleland North Provincial Education Director, Mr Jabulani Mpofu, said he expects improved pass rates at schools where pupils have low-cost boarding facilities.

“These facilities are very important because they create a conducive learning environment hence we expect improved pass rates at these two schools,” said Mr Mpofu.

He said the low-cost boarding facilities were gaining traction across the province.

For Cassy Nyathi, a Form Four pupil at Nyamandlovu Secondary School who is also Umguza Rural District Council junior councillor, the commissioning of the low-cost boarding facilities is a huge relief for learners. 

“I was staying at Anju farm and I used to travel 15km to school. It was very challenging and as such I was late to school most of the time,” she said.

Nyathi said she now has time to study after school, which was not the case when she was staying far away from school.

Her sentiments were shared by several other pupils who revealed that their performance had improved since using the facilities.

UNDP representative, Mr Emmanuel Boadi said the challenges affecting pupils in Umguza inspired his organisation to mobilise resources to build the cost boarding facilities. 

He said eight low-cost boarding facilities have been established in four districts at a cost of US$1,5 million.

“This school gave birth to the construction of low-cost boarding schools in four districts. I remember that we were here in March 2020 with the Global Fund chief executive officer after we invited him to come here to see what was happening,” said Mr Boadi. —@nqotshili