Parents withdraw children from private schools

Some parents who had enrolled their children at private colleges have withdrawn them after failing to afford the fees resulting in government schools being crowded.

North Park Primary School in Mt Pleasant, Harare, is one such school where classes that were built to accommodate 35 pupils are now taking up to 60 students.  

A visit to the school showed that two classes of early childhood development (ECD) are sharing a hall.

When the classrooms were constructed, the rooms were meant to accommodate between 30 to 35 pupils.

But 2016 has come with its own challenges for the school as the learning environment has changed for the worse with the same classrooms are accommodating double the number.

The number of children shot up after those who had enroled at private schools changed to government schools with the responsible ministry giving a directive that the children must not be turned away.

Legislator for the area, Jason Passadi, said the solution lies in building more classroom blocks.      

The development comes at a time the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is beginning the implementation of a new curriculum.

Infrastructure development and teacher capacity have been identified as critical if the new curriculum is to bear fruits.