Shamva schools get relief material

THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has embarked on a countrywide drive to enhance schools preparedness ahead of reopening next month.

This comes after last week’s Cabinet resolution that the reopening of schools be moved from the proposed June 29, 2020 to July 28, 2020, to allow the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to engage Treasury and other stakeholders or partners to mobilise for the provision of adequate resources.

Infection prevention training for teachers and support staff from public schools is already underway countrywide.

The ministry in partnership with civic organisations donated utensils, personal protective clothing (PPEs) and disinfectants over the weekend to five schools in Shamva district .

Forum for African Women Educationalists in Zimbabwe (FAWEZI) and its partners also availed reusable sanitary pads to school girls most of whom had been using tomato leaves and rags during menstruation.

FAWEZI national co-ordinator Mrs Lydia Madyirapanze said as a partner of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, her organisation was rendering support to Madziwa Mine Primary and Secondary, Wadzani Primary and Secondary and Mingchang Primary in Shamva District.

“We are here to partner and support Government in schools preparedness ahead of re-opening. We realised they are already activities happening in schools and we are here to help them with face masks, overalls, utensils and disinfectants,” she said.

“We are also supporting vulnerable learners in these schools. We are running programmes on comprehensive sexuality, prevention of violence against girls. We also realised that vulnerable learners need support in food and sanitary wear.

“We are giving them food hampers and sanitary wear which is not readily available to some girls in this district so that they get the support they require.

“Families are struggling with resources and some fail to buy sanitary pads for their children.”

Mrs Madyirapanze said through dialogue with girls in the district, it emerged that the majority use rags and tomato leaves during their menstrual cycle.

Councillor Coswell Kagogoda of ward 16 in Shamva North said the lack of funds might derail the re-opening of schools in the district.

“This assistance will speed up the process. We are encouraging tailors in the ward to produce face masks following guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.