Bulawayo primary school embarks on an ambitious project

IN a first for Bulawayo, a primary school, Mawaba, located in the high-density suburb of Lobengula West has embarked on an ambitious project to construct a double-storey lecture theatre block and multi-purpose swimming pool, it has been learnt.

The council-owned school did the ground-breaking ceremony for the two projects a couple of weeks ago which was attended by Bulawayo deputy provincial education director Mr Mathias Luphahla, Bulawayo City Council principal education officer Mrs Thumamina Khumalo and members of the private sector.

According to school officials the double storey lecture theatre will also house classrooms for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) department.

Confirming the developments the school's School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, Mr Nkosana Mazibisa — who at 26 could be one of the youngest SDC chairpersons in the country — said they had noted that most children in the western areas were not provided with equal opportunities to their counterparts in the low density suburbs.

"When we grew up a swimming pool was taboo to children in the western areas, which is why you find that most national swimmers are those children who grew up in the so-called A-schools but we now want to fight off that notion and empower them by the construction of this swimming pool that will be built according to international standards.

"We will also be constructing a double storey block which will house ECD classes and a lecture theatre. All in all these projects will cost a combined $2 million. We are serious about these projects that we have projected that they will be complete in the next 18 months," said Mr Mazibisa.

On the swimming pool project, the SDC chairperson said they wanted it not only to service the school but also be able to play host to national events like the youth games.

"Our goal is that the swimming pool also service other schools within the Mzilikazi district and also function as a form of revenue generator to fund more projects in the school, we feel children in the western suburbs also deserve equal opportunities so that they excel beyond academic barriers, it would be a wonderful achievement if the next Kirsty Coventry hails from the high density suburbs of Bulawayo.

"One might think that as a school we are being over-ambitious but this is part of our strategic plan, dubbed vision 2020. The whole idea is to give students exposure. Currently the school is positioned 38 in the provincial results with a pass rate of 82 percent. In our plan we want to reach position one with a 100 percent pass rate, of which we have started to make headway through improving learning infrastructure, conducive environment and the student-teacher ratio," said Mr Mazibisa.

In terms of funds for the two projects, the SDC chairperson said together with contributions from parents they were also working with the private sector.

"Some of the companies that have donated material for the project include Hawkflight Construction, Esats and Mazibisa Incorporated as part of their corporate social responsibility, we have other sponsors that we are talking to but we are not yet in a position to divulge their identity," said Mr Mazibisa.

Commenting on the developments, BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu praised the efforts that were being made by both the parents and the school authorities in improving the learning environment at the school.

"As you might know this is an effort being made by both the school officials and parents, the fact that it would be a first in the high density suburbs is just an extra but it should be noted that this will go a long way in improving education in both the city and the country as a whole.

"Further, this should serve as an example to all the other schools to emulate such in terms of working together for there to be positive growth in education performance," said Mrs Mpofu.