'Send children to school,' ZANU-PF Councillor

Mhondoro-Mubayira's ward 27 councillor, Maxwell Zinyengere (ZANU-PF) challenged parents and authorities on making fees payment plans rather than abruptly dropping kids out of school.

Speaking during prize giving and graduation ceremonies at Madzongwe Primary School and St Annes Academy in Mhondoro this Friday, Zinyengere bemoaned the levels of school drop-outs in various parts of Mhondoro as mainly caused by lack of knowledge and communication between school authorities and parents.

"My heart bleeds when we continuously experience school drop-outs in my ward. I appeal that when faced with financial or monetary problems, parents should be given an opportunity to render services which eqates to the fees charged," Zinyengere said.

"Instead of disturbing kids's foundation, parents should till the fields, do gardening, maintain fences or renovate some school facilities rather than hiring companies to render the services; and by that, we would have saved the children's future," Zinyengere said.

"We need to nurture future generations in a way that complements government policies including that of ensuring compliance to the new curriculum," Zinyengere added.

St Annes Academy Director, Engineer Fredrick Mafoko claimed that their duty as private players in primary education is to ensure that they lay foundation that complement children's abilities and capabilities in accordance with the government curriculum.

"As private players in primary education, it is our duty to complement government's policies on early childhood development, primary level curriculum, among other important aspects as prescribed by current educational trends," Mafoko said.

"We are trying to make sure that children will feel at home, whilst away from home. We are happy that the curriculum by government has enable teachers to identify diverse talents and abilities from grassroots," Mafoko said.

Madzongwe Primary School Development Committee chairperson, Victor Maramwidze encouraged that there should be dialogue and mutual agreement between parents and school authorities to ensure that children do not miss out lessons.

"Regardless of one's economic status, we prioritise negotiation and mutual agreement with parents without the involvement of kids. There is no need for turning away children because of fees arrears, but to mutually engage without interfering with their lessons," Victor Maramwidze said.

Madzongwe school head Ntolela Sylvester weighed in saying parents should send children to school because at school they teach various disciplines.

Meanwhile, Chegutu Rural District Council Chairperson, Lynette Chirwa has commented on educational private players in improving rural livelihoods.

"We have witnessed progress being made by these private players like St Annes Academy in transforming livelihoods in our communities. Their commitment to transform rural communities has become a testament on how private players have committed themselves to compliment government efforts of living no-one and no place behind," Chirwa said.