News / Regional
'Injivas abandoning children'
18 Mar 2014 at 06:56hrs | Views
CHIEF Mathuphula of Tsholotsho has bemoaned the high rate of school dropouts in his area due to neglect by parents who leave children with grandparents when they go to South Africa to look for jobs.
The traditional leader told Southern Eye that he was engaging parents and organisations to try and address the issue of children dropping out of school.
"Children are left with grandparents as the parents go job hunting in South Africa. Some do not send money for fees resulting in the children dropping out of school," Chief Mathuphula said.
"In most families, children only go up to Grade Seven and then they drop out of school because of lack of funds."
He said a local Baptist school assisted children who cannot pay fees while others benefited from the Basic Education Assistance Module, but more needed assistance.
"We are in the process of engaging parents and other stakeholders in trying to find strategies to keep children in school.
"It is important for children to go to school and acquire an education. This is the point that we want to emphasise, especially to parents, the importance of taking their children to school."
Chief Mathuphula also revealed that Pardon Maphosa, who was given money to enrol for 'A' Level by Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo after recording good passes at 'O' Level had been adopted by the Zanu-PF politburo member.
"The child who recorded the best results in the area last year did not have money for fees to proceed to 'A' Level and Moyo said he would adopt him and pay his fees for the duration of his studies," the chief said.
Maphosa did 'O' Levels at Kapane Secondary School and scored three As, five Bs and a C.
Moyo gave him $350 on March 4 when he visited the Sipepa area as part of a ministerial delegation to assess the plight of flood victims.
Moyo was told of Maphosa's plight and offered him the money to start 'A' Level at Tsholotsho High School.
Meanwhile, Chief Mathuphula has also revealed that the community was in the process of constructing Isiphala Senkosi that would help vulnerable villagers in the area.
"The granary is almost complete. It would also help in times like these when we have floods. We will be able to assist families before the government comes in," Chief Mathuphula said.
He also said they were in the process of building a community hall that would include the chief's court.
The traditional leader told Southern Eye that he was engaging parents and organisations to try and address the issue of children dropping out of school.
"Children are left with grandparents as the parents go job hunting in South Africa. Some do not send money for fees resulting in the children dropping out of school," Chief Mathuphula said.
"In most families, children only go up to Grade Seven and then they drop out of school because of lack of funds."
He said a local Baptist school assisted children who cannot pay fees while others benefited from the Basic Education Assistance Module, but more needed assistance.
"We are in the process of engaging parents and other stakeholders in trying to find strategies to keep children in school.
"It is important for children to go to school and acquire an education. This is the point that we want to emphasise, especially to parents, the importance of taking their children to school."
"The child who recorded the best results in the area last year did not have money for fees to proceed to 'A' Level and Moyo said he would adopt him and pay his fees for the duration of his studies," the chief said.
Maphosa did 'O' Levels at Kapane Secondary School and scored three As, five Bs and a C.
Moyo gave him $350 on March 4 when he visited the Sipepa area as part of a ministerial delegation to assess the plight of flood victims.
Moyo was told of Maphosa's plight and offered him the money to start 'A' Level at Tsholotsho High School.
Meanwhile, Chief Mathuphula has also revealed that the community was in the process of constructing Isiphala Senkosi that would help vulnerable villagers in the area.
"The granary is almost complete. It would also help in times like these when we have floods. We will be able to assist families before the government comes in," Chief Mathuphula said.
He also said they were in the process of building a community hall that would include the chief's court.
Source - Southern Eye
