Government to return school to the church

Amandlethu Secondary School at St Paul’s Mission, Lupane is set to be handed back to the Roman Catholic Church after government revealed that they are unable to run the school. 

 

Speaking at a Public Accountability meeting convened by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT), the Ward 19 Councilor, Zett Ncube, told the youths that the government was failing to run the school which was previously owned by the Roman Catholic Church, and would be handing it back to the church.

“Amandlethu Secondary School used to be owned by the Roman Catholic Church but was taken over by government,” said Ncube. “Ever since government took over, the school has been facing challenges and there is little development taking place. The government is going to hand back the school to the church as it is struggling to run it,” he said.

Prior to 1980 the provision of education for the majority of black people was largely in the hands of church organizations. Church organizations made and continue to make immense contributions to the establishment, growth and development of education in Zimbabwe. They pioneered the provision of education for the African people. The different church organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church, Brethren in Christ and Presbyterian amongst others established schools at their respective mission stations and in their areas of influence. In these schools the learners received tuition in basic education, teacher education and industrial skills training. The shortage of schools in rural areas was a challenge for government who then did not have the resources to build. It heavily relied on donors, some of whom were church organizations thereby facilitating the transfer of schools such as Amandlethu Secondary School from the church to government.

The move by government has been welcomed by the youths and the community at large who believe the school under the church’s wings will develop, thereby improving the quality of education of young people in the ward. 

“We are pleased with the decision by government to transfer the school back to the Roman Catholic Church,” said Lydia Moyo a member of NYDT. “The government has failed to develop and maintain the school since it took over. Now we are hoping that in the hands of the Church, the school will grow and the students’ capacities will also improve,” she said.

Most church schools are holding the fort in rural areas with some of them making the top 100 schools in Zimbabwe in 2014. This has given hope to the youths in St Paul’s mission who believe that with the help of the church Amandlethu secondary school will someday be in the top 100 and will have the best possible infrastructure.