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Farm Community Trust donates text books to Marondera farm schools
Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe (FCTZ)
August 07, 2006

In an effort to improve the quality of education in farm communities and informal rural settlements, Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe (FCTZ) has donated text books worth over 400 million dollars to two primary schools in Marondera.

A total of 288 text books were handed over to the head teachers of the beneficiary schools, Waltondale and Grandchase primary, at a ceremony held at the district education offices in Marondera. The schools each received grade 6 and 7 text books that cover a range of subjects which include Maths, English, Shona and Environmental Science.

Speaking at the occasion the District Education Officer for Marondera district, Mr. Josiah Muchetu, said this gesture by FCTZ will go a long way in promoting education in farm communities. He added that the organization has done a lot for the farm schools in the area that have remained marginalized in terms of resource provision.

The Provincial Manager for Mashonaland East, Mr. Cliff Mpande, said the donation was made after the realization that schools in farming areas are inadequately equipped with teaching and learning resources. He said within the basic education programme the main objective was to provide adequate learning resources and to provide a safe learning environment for the children. He said FCTZ ensures this through the donation of text books in a bid to reduce the pupil text book ration in primary schools and also in the formation of Child Protection Committees aimed at guarding the children against child abuse.

He said provision of books priorotised grade 6 and 7 as these are the critical grades as regards transition from basic education to secondary education so they need to be adequately resourced in terms of learning materials. He added that the organization broadened the number of titles provided for each school to ensure that all the subjects covered at this stage are catered for.

The head teacher for Waltondale primary School, Mr. Tendai Chikandiwa, said he was very grateful to FCTZ for the donation. He expressed confidence that this donation would improve the academic standards at the school. He added that the donation comes at a time when it has become difficult to procure text books because of the exorbitant prices of the commodities.

In October 2005 12 primary schools in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central, benefited from a similar donation of 925 text books also for grades 6 and 7 pupils. Among the schools which benefited are Gee Jay, Minda, Chidikamwedzi, Chiparta, Aranbira, Chiripiro, Sable Heights, Hilbre, Goromokwa, Samanyanga, Clearmorning and Chitemamuswe.

The hand over of the text books to schools is part of FCTZ’s Basic Education Programme. So far the organization has donated over 1500 text books to more than 25 primary schools in Mashonalnd West, East, Central and Manicaland farming areas.

Visit the FCTZ fact sheet

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