ZVISHAVANE-Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavima has edged schools to implement projects that can ensure self-sustenance as the current economic situation is a thorn in the flesh for Government to fully put is back in the running of schools.
While on tour of Sasulaand Matenda Primary Schools in Zvishavane, Professor Mavima emphasised that the schools must make maximum use of their school gardens so that they can be able to generate income to cover urgent needs like buying chalks since pupils are not paying school fees in most rural schools.
“Schools must fully utilise their garden space so that they can use the money for other things that they might need, they can also support the government initiative of school feeding by providing relish,” said Professor Mavima
However, Professor Mavima promised support to over five thousand rural schools with learning and teaching material for the smooth implementation of the new curriculum which was put in place last year.
The new education curriculum has been facing criticism and resistance with various stakeholders in the education sector citing lack of the requisite training and shortage of resources as being the major impediments in the effective implementation of the framework.
“The government will instead address the challenges affecting the implementation of the new curriculum through the provision of teaching and learning material to disadvantaged and marginalised schools across the country,” he said.
He also encouraged schools without agriculture teachers to re-skill the available staff so that they can take the subject seriously.
“The government is not in a position of employing new teachers, schools must make use of the teachers they have in the teaching of technical subjects especially agriculture so that pupils can learn effectively,” he added.
The minister rounded up his visit by paying a courtesy call at Shiku Primary where he promised to drill a borehole which will enable them to teach agriculture since the school has water problems
