By Dumisani Ndlovu
Mberengwa – A call has been made to modernise all schools in Mberengwa district, as only eight out of 157 have fully functional laboratories making it difficult to teach Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Planners of the Mberengwa RDC Master Plan noted that all schools in the district need to be modernised in line with Vision 2030. “Schools in the district are failing to teach STEM subjects mainly because they have no infrastructure that could allow them to do so. Schools do not have fully functional laboratories and Information Communication Technology infrastructure.
“Only eight schools in the whole district have fully functional laboratories, which makes it difficult to teach STEM subjects. It is also difficult to include the majority of schools in the district in ICT as only 21 schools (out of a total of 157 schools) have functioning ICT infrastructure.
“Technology is the new driver of development in the contemporary world, hence educating learners without information communication technology will result in disenfranchisement of these learners as they will not be competent to function in the digital era,” the Planners said.
They called for the rehabilitation of school infrastructure to fully equip them for STEM subjects and teaching and participation in ICT. “All schools to teach STEM subject so that we create a generation of STEM students that are able to participate in science and innovation.
“There is also a serious lack of STEM teachers as most of the schools do not offer STEM subjects because of a lack of teaching staff. There is a need to create incentives to attract STEM teachers in the district.
“This can be done through the provision of houses, water, and electricity for teachers. The district can also improve the road network so as to improve the accessibility of schools,” read the report.
The Planners said there was a need for community buy-in in acquiring computers and connecting internet in schools to support the adoption and implementation of ICTs in schools. All schools, the Planners said, should be electrified with renewable energy.
“Engage Development Partners in electrification of schools so that our schools can participate in ICTs, and strengthening resource mobilisation to buy computers to provide the infrastructure for adoption of ICTs,” said the Mberengwa RDC Planners.
On the failure to attract science and maths teachers, the Planners said: “This is mainly because the district is predominantly rural and there are no incentives to attract teachers into these areas. Poor road network is also another hindering factor for teachers to come to the district as teachers prefer accessible schools.
“The poor road network is also making other schools inaccessible for supervision, hence it has been very difficult to manage them. The road network is predominantly gravel, which is heavily damaged and poorly serviced,” read part of the Planners’ proposed Master Plan.
