Umguza school’s 21 year-old struggle with dilapidated infrastructure, no water, zero pass rate
Providence Moyo
Umguza- For the children of Mafuzo Primary School in Umguza Ward 16, Tsholotsho South, the dream of a quality education remains elusive. Despite being established in 2003, the school still operates from a single dilapidated block, lacks basic amenities like water, and has failed to produce a single passing Grade 7 student.
With no registration under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the school’s students are forced to travel 15 kilometers for their exams, at their parents’ expense.
The situation is compounded by the absence of a reliable water source. The nearest supply is the Gwayi River, located seven kilometers away, leaving parents to take turns fetching water for the five teachers. This community effort is a testament to the parents’ dedication to their children’s education, but it has not been enough to overcome the school’s severe infrastructure issues.
In an exclusive interview with Matebeleland Pulse, community member Charmain Dube voiced his concern, saying, “It’s not plausible. Grade Sevens are sent to Chesa, while parents have to finance the transport for the exam journey.” This year, 12 Grade 7 students were transported privately to the exam centre at Chesa Primary, further straining already impoverished households.
NaVusa, another community member, expressed worry about the impact of changing learning environments on the students. “When a child changes teachers, it affects them. I believe the same happens when their learning environment changes,” she said, underscoring the disruption in the students’ education as they are forced to travel to a distant school for their exams.
In addition to Mafuzo Primary’s struggles, other schools in the area, including Mnondo Secondary, are facing similar issues. Mnondo’s infrastructure is incomplete, with a single block missing roofing. Without two complete blocks, the school cannot be registered as a secondary institution, and students are forced to travel to Nyamandlovu Secondary for their exams.
Ward 16 Councillor Obert Mangwana stressed the importance of building adequate educational structures in the area: “We have about nine schools in the ward, and none have more than two blocks.”
Efforts to contact Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament Musa Ncube for comment were unsuccessful. The community continues to advocate for better educational opportunities, but for now, the dream of a better future remains out of reach for many children in this rural area.
