Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Nqobile Tshili, nqobile.tshili@chronicle.co.zw
LEARNERS at several schools in Matabeleland North missed lessons last week while some are yet to attend class two weeks into the first term due to flash flooding, which has affected 22 primary and secondary schools in the province as incessant rains continue to pound the country.
Heavy rains have intensified since the start of the year, raising hopes for an improved farming season as the country emerges from an El-Nino-induced drought.
The downpours have resulted in 23 deaths through drowning while over 800 households have been affected countrywide, according to the Civil Protection Unit.
The education sector has also been affected with Matabeleland North Provincial Education Director, Mr Jabulani Mpofu, saying only schools in Nkayi and Binga districts have not recorded any rain-related disruption so far.
“At Sabelo Primary School in Bubi, the river was flooded affecting mostly the teachers who were coming from Bulawayo.
“In Hwange District, Nekabandama and Kuribalila Primary Schools were affected. In Lupane, it is Daluka Primary School, the area is swampy so pupils coming from St Luke’s are affected,” said Mr Mpofu.
“We have a serious problem in Tsholotsho, the district has poor drainage. So Tshabanda primary and secondary schools were affected. Dikili, Dogwe, Nhlangano, Mbalibali, Bubude, and Nshaba primary schools were also affected by the floods.”
He said in Umguza District, Sawmills, Igusi, Zimdabule, Umguza, Bhuda, Zikhululeni, Ndazini, Dundubala, Sikhanyiso, and Lukukwe primary schools have had their opening affected due to rains.
Mr Mpofu said the ministry still discourages members of the public and learners from crossing flooded rivers with the Government pledging to compensate for lost time.
“We still discourage pupils and teachers from crossing flooded rivers. We discourage even motorists from crossing flooded rivers,” he said.
“Schools should find a way of compensating these learners. Some of them are giving assignments using cellphones. Some of the areas are not badly affected.”
A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited Tshabanda Village in Tsholotsho where school authorities and communities narrated how flash floods had disrupted learning.
As the news crew approached the village it observed that due to the lack of a proper drainage system, there was water on the sides of the road and also some ditches of water with boys even swimming in them.
Some of the ponds cover over 100 metres. Mr Mthabisi Sibanda, a deputy head at Tshabanda High School, said the school failed to receive learners last week on Thursday as rains pounded the area.
“We were seriously affected by the rains last week. We experienced floods all over the school. The water was flowing from the north passing through the school as there is no proper drainage in this area,” said Mr Sibanda.
“As a result, we were forced to turn away the learners because the school was not accessible. Also, other learners from Dugwi, Denge Jibhi, and Chefunye were not able to come to school.
“Even our boarders were not able to go to their classes as there was water all over the school.”
Mr Sibanda said even teachers were marooned in their homes with community members expressing shock at the amount of rain that was received.
“When it comes to the flooding, we only know of what happens in the Sipepa area but we never thought it would be experienced here. Even our school bus got stuck in the mud on Tuesday opening day,” he said.
“We were anticipating having to conduct two trips during the opening of the school but our bus got stuck in the mud and we are still consulting with the community members to assist us with a tractor to pull it out.”
Mr Sibanda said the school has already extended learning hours to compensate for the lost time stating that the safety of learners remains a priority.
Mrs Simangaliphi Moyo, a senior teacher at Tshabanda Primary School said school authorities are in constant communication with parents in case rains start pounding when they are in school.
She said when it rains a quarter of the pupils cannot report for school as they cross flooded rivers.
“We have contacts for the parents and when we receive downpours during the learning hours, we inform them to come and collect the learners. Some of them wait for the learners in those streams to ensure that the children make it safe at home,” she said.
One of the villagers, Mr Henry Ndebele, showed the news crew a video they captured when the rains had pounded the area. The water reached knee level and was flowing over the road to some of the houses.
“We have not received this amount of rain in a long time. The last time we experienced such heavy downpours I was still a boy. As you can see there is water all over the place,” he said.
“The water was covering my knees. We have to divert the water so that it does not flow into our house. But in other homes, the water was flowing into their houses. Some houses built using poles and dagga collapsed,” said Mr Ndebele.
He said it was unusual to see children being turned away from school due to flooding at the local schools.
“For the children, they could not go to school for two days. We were marooned, our children were not able to leave our homes and others failed to even gain entrance into the school and they were told to return home,” he said.
Director of communication and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said the ministry has taken an inclusive approach to ensure children’s education is not disrupted.
“To ensure that learners catch up, we are implementing several strategies, including extended school hours where feasible, additional classes on weekends, and provision of online resources for remote learning,” he said.
“We are also coordinating with local authorities and community organisations to provide support to affected families and ensure that students can return to school safely.”
While the ministry has identified the most affected schools, it is reported that due to flooded rivers, there are learners who are still to report for school in other areas.
-@nqotshili
