BY STEVE EPHRAEM
REFUGEES at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge are requesting for an Advance Level facility.
This came after the camp received a three-classroom block which was constructed by Chipinge Rural District Council using devolution funds. The ECD was officially opened last Friday when Zimbabwe held its belated World Refugee Day commemoration at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge.
The ECD facility that was built to decongest Tongogara Primary School was commissioned by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon July Moyo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary for Manicaland State Affairs and Devolution, Mr Edgars Seenza.
Tongogara Primary School is rated one the most populated primary education institutions in Manicaland Province, boasting of more than 3,000 learners this year.
In his hand-over speech, Chipinge RDCs Engineer Dhliwayo said that they channelled spent US$27,500 on the project.
“Chipinge Rural District Council is proud to contribute towards the inclusion of refugee children in education and fulfilling our national mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“We therefore laid the foundation for the establishment of an Infant School at this centre to help to decongest Tongogara Primary School. We are certain that this will contribute towards the attainment of quality education in line with the Sustainable Development Goal number 4,” he said.
Speaking on the need for the A Level facility during his presentation, community leader, Kibumba Sierra Negro indicated that many learners are ending their educational journey at Ordinary Level due to in availability of an Advanced Level facility in the camp.
“Honourable Minister, our hearts are disturbed by the failure to support students to proceed to Advanced Level. We are therefore asking for an Advanced Level block at St Michaels Secondary School and provide it with qualified teachers, furniture and equipment for pupils to be able to complete their secondary studies at the camp,” he said.