Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, sukulwenkosi.dube@chronicle.co.zw
JAHUNDA Primary School in Gwanda aims to discontinue hot sitting next year to allow learners longer hours of learning and improve their performance.
Speaking yesterday during their 2024 speech and prize-giving day ceremony, the school headmaster, Mr Silas Moyo, said the major cause of hot sitting is limited learning space, which needs to be addressed.
The event was held under the theme: “Embracing the heritage-based curriculum for effective life skills implementation — a fight against drug and substance use.”
The school has a total enrolment of 2 088 learners, of which 1 030 are boys and 1 088 are girls. The school boasts an establishment of 60 teachers, of which eight are males and 52 are females.
“Our ECD learners continue to face the challenge of not having adequate learning space. As such, we still have some of our learners using Phakama Primary School as their base. This is not ideal for teachers, parents, and indeed for the learners themselves. I call upon the responsible authority to formulate plans to alleviate this situation.
“For Grades 1 to 7, the situation is not any better as the available learning spaces cannot accommodate the high numbers we have in one session. As a result, the not-so-ideal hot sitting arrangement continues. This arrangement reduces the number of hours of instruction to learners per day, thereby compromising the quality of education our learners get. Next year, we wish to discontinue hot sitting, and every learner will come in the morning,” he said.
Mr Moyo commended his staff for doing a sterling job despite these challenges, as evidenced by the good results produced at all levels. He said over the past five years, their pass rate has been good, with an 81 percent pass rate recorded last year. In 2022, the school recorded 86 percent, in 2021, 95 percent, and in 2020, the school recorded 91 percent.
He said a sudden increase in enrolment, which brought about hot sitting, has affected the pass rate.
Mr Moyo said the school is targeting to surpass the 90 percent pass rate next year. He said other challenges include textbook shortages as a result of the high enrolment.
“I’m pleased to announce that Jahunda Primary has never failed to participate in activities organised by the Ministry and Naph (National Association of Primary Heads). May I add, we do not just participate, we excel in what we do. Jahunda Primary contributed an athlete to the Matabeleland South athletics team that competed in Masvingo. We also had an athlete in the national ball games where one of our volleyball players raised our flag high. “This term, we had competitors in chess reaching the provincial competitions in Beitbridge. Our quiz team raised our flag high in all the competitions it participated in,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the school practices inclusivity. He said they have enrolled learners with special needs. The learners with disabilities are given a chance to learn at their pace while improving their capabilities. Mr Sibanda said this dovetails well into the President’s policy of leaving no one behind.
In a speech read on his behalf by his legal advisor, Ms Bridget Dube, Mzansi Transport owner, Mr Cabangani Mangena, who was the guest of honour, urged the learners to always strive for excellence.
“Remember that success is not a destination but a journey. Keep pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and striving for greatness. As I look back on my journey, I realise that success comes with perseverance, commitment, and embracing challenges. Growing up, I faced barriers that seemed insurmountable, but my parents, teachers, and mentors believed in me. They saw potential in me that I didn’t know existed,” he said.
Mr Mangena urged the learners to believe in themselves, surround themselves with positive influences, and learn from their mistakes. He urged learners to pursue their dreams as they have the potential to change the world. Mr Mangena urged learners and parents to embrace education as it is the key to unlocking dreams and achieving goals. It brings much-needed empowerment, opportunities, personal growth, and a bright future. He urged the outgoing Grade Seven learners to remain focused and pursue their dreams.
Jahunda Primary School Development Committee Chairperson, Ms Nokuphila Maphosa, said the school has recorded significant achievements in the year 2024, among them the purchasing of a bus, furniture for both infants and juniors, renovation of toilets into girl-friendly facilities, and renovation of a play centre, among other projects. She said the school has also embarked on income-generating projects to boost its revenue base.–@DubeMatutu
