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237 schools damaged by rains in Zimbabwe
5 hrs ago |
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The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says it is in the final stages of assessing damage caused by heavy rains that have affected 237 school sites across the country, with repair and rehabilitation work set to begin soon.
Director of Communications and Advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro said teams have been deployed nationwide to quantify the extent of the destruction, which ranges from blown-off roofs and flooded classrooms to damaged sanitation facilities.
"The ministry is currently finalising the bill of quantities for the required repairs," said Mr Ndoro. "Given the scale, we are adopting a phased approach."
He said the first phase will focus on emergency repairs to stabilise affected structures, while the second phase will involve full rehabilitation and reconstruction. Schools with the most severe damage are being prioritised.
Mr Ndoro said funding for the repairs will be drawn from the ministry's budget, supported by the Government's Disaster Risk Management framework, which has been activated in response to the widespread flooding.
He added that community participation has also played a key role, with parents' associations, school development committees, and local businesses contributing labour and materials to assist in restoring damaged infrastructure.
"We are profoundly grateful for the spirit of Ubuntu being exhibited by our communities," he said, noting that the ministry is providing technical oversight to ensure safety and structural standards are maintained.
To minimise disruption to learning, the ministry has introduced catch-up measures for affected learners, including rotational use of available facilities, weekend classes, radio lessons, correspondence modules, and expanded e-learning platforms such as the Learning Passport.
"We are working closely with the Department of Civil Protection to ensure that schools are rebuilt with greater resilience to future climate-induced disasters," Mr Ndoro said, adding that psychosocial support programmes are also being rolled out for affected learners.
Department of Civil Protection chief director Mr Nathan Nkomo said continuous public education on the dangers of crossing flooded rivers remains critical, while also highlighting infrastructure failures in some areas, including Gwanda, where poor workmanship contributed to dam and bridge failures during flooding.
He said an 80-metre section of a dam wall collapsed, triggering severe downstream flooding that destroyed bridges and submerged key facilities, including a municipal water pumping station.
According to the latest Situation Report, 138 people have died, 72 have been injured, and 52 health institutions have been damaged since the start of the rainy season, underscoring the scale of the national disaster response effort.
Director of Communications and Advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro said teams have been deployed nationwide to quantify the extent of the destruction, which ranges from blown-off roofs and flooded classrooms to damaged sanitation facilities.
"The ministry is currently finalising the bill of quantities for the required repairs," said Mr Ndoro. "Given the scale, we are adopting a phased approach."
He said the first phase will focus on emergency repairs to stabilise affected structures, while the second phase will involve full rehabilitation and reconstruction. Schools with the most severe damage are being prioritised.
Mr Ndoro said funding for the repairs will be drawn from the ministry's budget, supported by the Government's Disaster Risk Management framework, which has been activated in response to the widespread flooding.
He added that community participation has also played a key role, with parents' associations, school development committees, and local businesses contributing labour and materials to assist in restoring damaged infrastructure.
"We are profoundly grateful for the spirit of Ubuntu being exhibited by our communities," he said, noting that the ministry is providing technical oversight to ensure safety and structural standards are maintained.
To minimise disruption to learning, the ministry has introduced catch-up measures for affected learners, including rotational use of available facilities, weekend classes, radio lessons, correspondence modules, and expanded e-learning platforms such as the Learning Passport.
"We are working closely with the Department of Civil Protection to ensure that schools are rebuilt with greater resilience to future climate-induced disasters," Mr Ndoro said, adding that psychosocial support programmes are also being rolled out for affected learners.
Department of Civil Protection chief director Mr Nathan Nkomo said continuous public education on the dangers of crossing flooded rivers remains critical, while also highlighting infrastructure failures in some areas, including Gwanda, where poor workmanship contributed to dam and bridge failures during flooding.
He said an 80-metre section of a dam wall collapsed, triggering severe downstream flooding that destroyed bridges and submerged key facilities, including a municipal water pumping station.
According to the latest Situation Report, 138 people have died, 72 have been injured, and 52 health institutions have been damaged since the start of the rainy season, underscoring the scale of the national disaster response effort.
Source - Sunday Mail
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