News / National
Teachers cut off as Chiredzi schools are marooned
11 hrs ago | Views
As schools reopened last week on Tuesday, excitement and anticipation filled the air for students eager to begin the new term. However, for many schools in Chiredzi South Constituency, Masvingo province, the joy of learning remains a distant dream.
Heavy rains have led to swollen rivers and impassable roads, turning many routes into muddy marshes and leaving teachers stranded, unable to reach their schools. The affected areas stretch from Chiredzi to Gezani, where travellers must cross two main rivers, Runde and Mwenezi, which frequently flood during the rainy season.
In Chambuta, Chilonga, and Chibwedziva areas, teachers and learners are experiencing similar challenges. Further down, communities like Boli-Mhlanguleni, Alpha Mphapha, Phahlela, and Maliphathi up to Gezani are unable to resume learning due to the impassable roads and stranded teachers.
Teachers who manage to reach Chiredzi growth point are facing a logistical nightmare. On Monday, chaos erupted as teachers and pupils scrambled to board a single Chiwara bus, which had been overloaded beyond its capacity of 75 passengers, with over 100 people on board. Safety concerns were overlooked as desperate commuters sought any way to reach their schools.
The journey to schools in these areas has become a prolonged ordeal, with what should be a two-hour trip turning into a 12 to 24-hour challenge, testing the patience and determination of educators and community members alike.
Transport operators have seized the opportunity to hike fares in the face of the crisis. For instance, the US$5 fare from Chiredzi to Chikombedzi has tripled to US$15, placing an additional burden on educators and learners.
A WhatsApp group has been created by teachers stuck in Chiredzi growth point to receive updates on road conditions. One senior teacher expressed frustration to NewsDay, stating, "There are many of us at the growth point. We constantly check with the operators on whether the road conditions can permit us to travel. We just can't do anything, even if we want to report for duty."
A school head shared similar concerns, explaining, "Teachers have not yet shown up. They say they are stuck in Chiredzi. It's understandable because the rivers, even smaller ones, are flooded. Can I force someone to cross a flooded river? Certainly, no!"
Chiredzi district school inspector Takaendesa Hove highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that schools are in low-lying areas where rivers such as Turwi, Runde, and Mwenezi converge, exacerbating the challenges.
Raymond Majongwe, Secretary-General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said the inaccessibility of schools in low-lying areas is a long-standing issue that the government must address, emphasizing the difficulty in providing service in such conditions.
The flood-induced disruptions are not only a logistical nightmare but also have serious implications for the education of learners in Chiredzi South. The lack of access to schools contributes to low pass rates and perpetuates a cycle of educational inequality.
As the rains persist, the future of young learners in Chiredzi hangs in the balance, threatened by treacherous terrain and inadequate infrastructure.
Heavy rains have led to swollen rivers and impassable roads, turning many routes into muddy marshes and leaving teachers stranded, unable to reach their schools. The affected areas stretch from Chiredzi to Gezani, where travellers must cross two main rivers, Runde and Mwenezi, which frequently flood during the rainy season.
In Chambuta, Chilonga, and Chibwedziva areas, teachers and learners are experiencing similar challenges. Further down, communities like Boli-Mhlanguleni, Alpha Mphapha, Phahlela, and Maliphathi up to Gezani are unable to resume learning due to the impassable roads and stranded teachers.
Teachers who manage to reach Chiredzi growth point are facing a logistical nightmare. On Monday, chaos erupted as teachers and pupils scrambled to board a single Chiwara bus, which had been overloaded beyond its capacity of 75 passengers, with over 100 people on board. Safety concerns were overlooked as desperate commuters sought any way to reach their schools.
The journey to schools in these areas has become a prolonged ordeal, with what should be a two-hour trip turning into a 12 to 24-hour challenge, testing the patience and determination of educators and community members alike.
Transport operators have seized the opportunity to hike fares in the face of the crisis. For instance, the US$5 fare from Chiredzi to Chikombedzi has tripled to US$15, placing an additional burden on educators and learners.
A school head shared similar concerns, explaining, "Teachers have not yet shown up. They say they are stuck in Chiredzi. It's understandable because the rivers, even smaller ones, are flooded. Can I force someone to cross a flooded river? Certainly, no!"
Chiredzi district school inspector Takaendesa Hove highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that schools are in low-lying areas where rivers such as Turwi, Runde, and Mwenezi converge, exacerbating the challenges.
Raymond Majongwe, Secretary-General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said the inaccessibility of schools in low-lying areas is a long-standing issue that the government must address, emphasizing the difficulty in providing service in such conditions.
The flood-induced disruptions are not only a logistical nightmare but also have serious implications for the education of learners in Chiredzi South. The lack of access to schools contributes to low pass rates and perpetuates a cycle of educational inequality.
As the rains persist, the future of young learners in Chiredzi hangs in the balance, threatened by treacherous terrain and inadequate infrastructure.
Source - newsday
