ZDDT appeal: Trenance Primary School

Written by Lewis Jones, Field Correspondent – With acknowledgement to Mrs. Juliet Rickwood Monday, 18 July 2011 13:04

BULAWAYO – Built in the nineteen sixties to cater for a small community, Trenance Primary School currently has a pupil enrolment of approximately five hundred, three hundred of whom are either orphaned or with a single parent.

Situated in the middle to low income suburb of Trenance, Ward Three, eight kilometres north of the City Centre the school is faced with a myriad of challenges that, under the circumstances, can largely be satisfactorily solved with the aid of willing benefactors.

Out of an ideal quota that should number 45 teachers, there are presently only 13. Floors are badly worn and in need of repairing as do desks and seating. In some of the classrooms, teachers have to improvise because there are no blackboards, while in others children are forced to stand during lessons due to the lack of adequate classroom furnishings. Almost all door and light fittings are non existent, having disappeared years ago. Because of the shortage of learning space some of the pupils are crammed into a small office and a garage for lessons. The newest classroom block lacks a ceiling virtually turning the place into a furnace in the summer months.

Children are frequently sent home for non payment of fees which amount to $10.00 every term, together with a $15.00 per term levy. Many cannot sit for exams due to their inability to pay the costs and are subsequently deprived of advancement through no fault of theirs.

But the institution’s administration, led by headmistress, Mrs. Doris Mashaiti, has not been idly watching this deteriorating situation. They have come up with a plan to construct two additional classrooms for which the concrete slab has already been laid, and are seeking means to conduct necessary infrastructural repairs where ever this is needed. Mrs. Mashaiti mentioned that the school and surrounding community are keen to see the classrooms’ completion, which besides serving pupils, are intended for use in much sought after adult education programmes.

Plans for the new classroom block were provided by the Government’s Public Works Department, (PWD), who will oversee construction work and select qualified builders from among the local community. Construction, set to last one month, is estimated to cost $22,000. Experts advise that work should commence before the onset of the rainy season.

A measure of relief was realised in the form of a donation of text books from the Australian Embassy and the Lions Club provided for electrical work which was carried out by the (PWD). Local Member of Parliament, Hon. Dorcas Sibanda also presented the school with 100 chairs.

Yet in spite of these welcome gestures of generosity, much more assistance will be needed in order for reasonable levels of relief to be established at Trenance Primary.

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Well-wishers willing to assist with building materials fittings, appliances or cash may do so by utilising the following contact details:

TELEPHONE, MRS. D. MASHAITI: +263 9 210937, during office hours.

Email:

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Alternatively TELEPHONE: +263 9 230017.

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