Chimoza Community School in Ndola’s Bwana Mkubwa area might face closure due to financial constraints as the donor who has been funding the school pulled out in December 2014.
Chimoza Head Teacher Nicholas Banda told ZANIS in an interview in Ndola yesterday that the school has appealed to the Ministry of Education to send government teachers to the school to serve the school from being closed permanently.
Mr. Banda explained that the school which was constructed in 2002 with the donor funds has 13 classrooms which are electrified with a modern ablution block, two boreholes, and one hand water pump with a computer lab to set up an information communication technology lessons.
“After a long history of financial hardships, the community will not be pleased to have such an education investment infrastructure turning into a white elephant. Efforts have been made by the school authority to the Ministry of Education to assist the school but they have not responded yet to serve the community school,” Mr. Banda said.
The school which had 593 pupils from baby class to grade nine has seen some pupils dropping out of school because meals that were being provided by the school have been suspended due to lack of funds.
The Head Teacher further explained that the nearby Katondo basic which is a government school cannot accommodate all the pupils from Chimoza Community school because of the large number.
He added that the area is also recording high numbers of early marriages as parents feel that they can be supported by marrying off their girl child.
Mr. Banda stated that girls are being married off as early as 12 years of age as parents opt to benefit from the marriages of the children.
He said the school introduced a K50 fee per month for each pupil at the school in a bid to sustain it financially but that parents cannot afford because most children are coming from vulnerable families.
Mr. Banda explained that the donor known as the Q Fund based in United States of America informed them in August 2014 that they were going to stop funding the community school in December 2014 because they had run out of funds.
very sad development
That’s the reason I don’t like Aid. It pretends to be a Messiah and convinces people’s minds that they are so poor so much that children need to receive free meals at school. And when this Aid realizes it’s not the messiah after all, then the whole process goes back to square zero.
These are community development projects that the likes of GBM and HH should support instead of just bragging above a Benz and many trucks being purchased. To me if you brag but assist the needy I still will give you 10/10 but if you brag and feed yourself you can go to hell.
Ministry of Education has the responsibility to take over such schools. The community and the Q Fund have done a commendable job already. Imagine someone educating and feeding your child for 12 years?
Last year I understood that the government was taking over all Community School? Has the situation changed?
Nicholas Banda and his members of staff do not need to shoulder this problem. They should take the 593 pupils to Mukuyu House, or the DC, or the Mayor… (however, they do it!). Or better still write a letter or go straight to Kaingu.
Do not forget to carry Zanis with you, so that we are informed of the developments of this school.
Ba ECL please issue a decree for MoE to take over this school with immediate effect! You do it even before you arrive back home from China….
Ba ECL please issue a decree for MoE to take over this school with immediate effect! You can do it even before you arrive back home from China….
?@Ghostrider, is it jelous or what? This will take you no where, each person has got his own priorities and it is the more reason THE ALMIGHTY gave us human beings independent minds. Never blame your friends for the ills you are facing. HH and GBM have a special blessing from the ALMIGHTY and they may not misdirect their effort just to prove a point to you, who may be is a lazy something. This is the way you spoil chances of improving in your lives because you continue rediculing others for no good reason. How do you know, may be these two are involved in some other charities. Just be careful with what you say, the bad wishes you want to go to others may come back to you and haunt you forever.