Bubi RDC seeks $3m for schools development

22 Jan, 2017 - 00:01 0 Views

The Sunday News

Nozibelo Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
BUBI Rural District Council in Matabeleland North is seeking more than $3 million to construct classroom blocks at 32 satellite schools before the end of the year.

In an interview, council chief executive officer Mr Patson Mlilo said $3,84 million was needed to construct classrooms and teachers’ cottages. He said the rural council made a resolution in 2013 to ensure that the satellite schools were developed into proper schools.

“We made a resolution in 2013 to build at least three classroom blocks per year at each satellite school. However, due to lack of funds, we have been failing to build as many blocks as we wanted to,” said Mr Mlilo.

He said the RDC has only managed to build classrooms at four schools at a cost of $80 000.

“We have only managed to build three blocks at Alfa Alfa Secondary and two other primary schools. Currently we are still building a block at Battlefields Secondary School, we hope to be done in two months, if we are not disturbed by the rains,” he said.

He expressed worry that the rains the country has been receiving might result in the collapse of some of the temporary structures at some satellite schools.

“Most of the schools have thatched roofing, my concern is that due to the heavy rains, the classrooms may collapse on the pupils, besides, some of these children cross rivers to get to school, this is not a good time for crossing rivers because of flooding and these children are not safe. We therefore appeal to the Government to intervene and give us funds so that we build brick and concrete classrooms,” he said.

Mr Mlilo said the district was still facing a shortage of schools and some children were still forced to walk long distances to school.

“If we get enough money this year, our main priority will be Bantukuqala Primary School which has walls which are already collapsing,” he said.

Twitter:@maphosanozibelo

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