Education ministry to hold service fair

THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has appealed to various stakeholders to assist in alleviating challenges faced by rural pupils in accessing education.

Addressing heads of Government departments and non-governmental organisations from Bulilima and Mangwe districts last week, Matabeleland South provincial education director Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the ministry had introduced the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) programme which required all Government departments and NGOs to mainstream the welfare of learners in their programming.

She said one of the main challenges hindering rural pupils from accessing education was lack of birth certificates.

Ms Thabela said other challenges included poor infrastructure, long distances and poor nutrition. She said these barriers were causing a low turnout of pupils.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has introduced the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) programme which is set to be launched soon.

“Under the programme we are saying various stakeholders should contribute in eradicating barriers faced by learners according to their line of work. We have different service providers whose operations have an impact on learners such as the Registry Office which is responsible for issuing birth certificates. We are saying such partners can do what is in their means so that learners can access education,” said Mrs Thabela.

She said some pupils were unable to access schools because of poor roads, damaged bridges and damaged classrooms.

Mrs Thabela said there was a need for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to repair infrastructure to ensure easy access for learners.

Mrs Thabela said NGOs could assist by catering for nutritional challenges faced by pupils that were coming from impoverished families.

She said her ministry will hold a service fair at Usher Institute in Bulilima District on 15 May where all service providers from the district were expected educate pupils on their contribution towards their education.

“The service fairs are part of the sensitisation process of the CSTL programme. We call on Government departments, parastatals, NGOs and other service providers to attend as part of their support for the education sector. At the service fair stakeholders will be expected to explain their services to learners. At the same time they will be equipping them with possible career paths,” she said.

She said service fairs were going to be held in other districts in Matabeleland South Province.