THREE South African-based Zimbabweans have joined hands to source textbooks, stationery and other learning material for their former schools in Mangwe, Plumtree in Matabeleland South province.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Foster Nkomose and Arthur and Mahlathini Ncube said poor infrastructure in most rural schools of Mangwe forced them to come together to ensure “our children get decent education like those in other provinces”.
The trio said they have been providing material support to Makuzeze, Tshitshi and Tjingababili primary schools since 2013.
Nkomose told Southern Eye that they decided to mobilise support for the schools after realising government’s shortcomings over the years.
“We want to turn this initiative into a foundation targeting schools in our home area, because we realise if we do not, no-one will do it for us,” he said.
“The other reason for this initiative is that the respective schools were not recording good pass rates during final year examinations due to lack of learning material and other infrastructure and we saw the need to try and bridge the gap and see to it that our children have a better future.”
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The last donation to the three schools was on December 27, 2015 at a ceremony held at Tshitshi Business Centre, where the three presented textbooks, chalks, ballpoint pens and other learning material worth R10 000.
“We urge other former students from schools in Plumtree to do the same, as that is the only way we can develop our province, starting with laying a good foundation which is education,” Nkomose added.
A number of schools in Matabeleland have poor infrastructure amid reports that 15 primary schools in region recorded 0% pass rate in the 2014 Grade Seven public examinations.
The Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s provincial analysis report released last year showed that more than 100 schools out of a total of about 180 primary schools performed dismally, with most settling far below the national pass rate of 38,13%.
Several of them scored between 0% and 5%.
