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Sun basking education
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
June 21, 2010

Learning under a tree has become the norm for Matebeleland North students after the closure of many schools due to their catastrophic state.

Kapane primary school in Tsholotsho, Chithekelwe and Mahlothova primary schools in Umguza district are among the schools that were recently declared unfit for human inhabitation. Some buildings have collapsing roofs while others have huge cracks.

Matebeleland North provincial education director Boithaleto Mnguni confirmed these reports highlighting that, of the 500 primary schools in the area, 150, which constitute 30%, have been declared unfit for student s to use as classrooms.

While schools are being closed due to poor infrastructure, the bulk of the pupils have to walk a distance of 10kilometeres to the nearest school. However according to the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture, on average, a pupil should not be in a radius of more than three kilometers from the nearest school.

ZimRights calls on the government to prioritize the right to education in a conducive environment for children. Schools must be built close to communities to avoid children walking long distances to get to school, while books, teachers and infrastructure should be readily available.

This comes at a time when COPAC has started the outreach programme to gather views from communities to be used in creating the constitution. ZimRights therefore urges communities, not only in Matebeleland, but the rest of the country to emphasize the need for educational facilities in the new constitution. The right to education is one of the most significant aspects that must be included in the constitution and in the Declaration of Rights.

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