SHANNISE DZOBO
CHIVI-The establishment of Chamasvinga Secondary School over 10 years ago came as a major relief to the Chivi North Ward 5 community as it meant their children would no longer walk long distances to the nearest secondary school.
Chamasvinga (a bundle of firewood) which was meant to be a bundle of joy for the community as it is adjacent to the century old Sukwe Primary School has become a curse as it has recorded zero pass rate since 2016.
The satellite school to Jenya High in the same district is now a far cry from what it was when it was built with the help of former Chivi North MP, Tranos Huruba over ten years ago.
Recently Ward 5 councillor Grace Mukungunugwa has taken it upon herself to try and help in bringing back life to the school as learners are now leaving in droves to nearby secondary schools like Mudadisi, Madan’ombe or Masunda which are more than 7km away.
In a letter to the District Schools Inspector, Mukungunugwa implored the authorities to quickly take urgent action to bring order to the school before it closes its doors due to maladministration and neglect.
“This is the second letter that I have written expressing deep concern about the state of satellite Chamasvinga Secondary School which is under Jenya High School, the pass rate has been hovering at zero percent for the past years and there are no signs that this situation will change anytime soon since there are no measures being put in place to correct the ordeal,” said Mukungunugwa in her letter to the DSI.
“The school had an enrolment of almost 300 pupils when the school started operating but as of now there are less than 140 learners because others are leaving due to poor leadership at the school where the authorities are accused of being discourteous to both parents and learners.”
Mukungunugwa stated that there has been no developments since the installation of electricity at the school prompting parents and guardians to transfer their children to better run schools which are more focused and also accused the authorities of sending away learners at every opportunity without taking consideration of the operating environment.
“There has been no development for the past years and we thought that by the installation of electricity there were going to be changes for the better at the school, but there has not been any and that has forced a lot of parents and guardians to transfer their children to schools although they are far,” said Mukungunugwa.
She went on to say that despite several complaints that were raised against the school authorities nothing is being done to correct the deteriorating situation and if no action is done as a matter of urgency the situation is going to get out of hand.
Provincial Education Director of Masvingo, Shylatte Mhike told The Midweek Watch that she was not aware of the issue since the letter has not yet reached her office.
“I am not aware of that issue and I am yet to receive the letter from Chivi since it hasn’t reached my office therefore, I will comment when I get more information,” said Mhike.
“The headmaster is too heavy handed and very disrespectful to both parents and children, he sees himself as the beginning and the end at the school and does not take advice from anyone,” said one parent from Vurombo Village on anonymity.
Efforts to get a comment from Jenya High headmaster and his counterpart at Chamasvinga were unsuccessful as their cellphones were either not being answered or were not reachable.
