Nyuni Secondary School in Chingwizi, Mwenezi, set up to accommodate children of victims of the Tokwe-Mukosi dam floods, is being swamped by pupils from other areas as it offers free education, Masvingo provincial education director Zedius Chitiga has said.
Speaking during a tour of the area this week, Chitiga said this was putting immense pressure on the meager resources available saying they could not turn away the children but ask for more assistance.
Following a donation of over $1 million by the Japanese government last year, to lessen the burden for mostly women and children in accessing social services, the school along with four primary schools received a facelift with more tents and learning materials.
The education director said 2 974 children attended the four primary schools, while 522 were enrolled at Nyuni, which is the only secondary school in the area.
He said enrolment at Nyuni had increased by over 14% while the pass rate improved from 14% to 18%. However, the schools, which use makeshift tents as classrooms and accommodation for teachers, still needed more resources to improve standards.
Teachers at these schools have been accorded a special quota by the government whereby they are allowed to further their studies without paying fees, in a bid to motivate them to stay at the schools.
- NewsDay
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