11 May 2016

Maposa Primary School is not just an ordinary school, it has been named after a village in the Tutume Sub-district.

This is one of the government primary schools with boarding facilities set up to equate and bring closer learning opportunities to the rural settlements dwellers, particularly children eligible to attend schools.

Children enrolled at the school come from Malelejwe, Tshwane, Manjerengwa, Dziba la Makhiya, Mpungwa and several other settlements within Tutume sub-region.

These children are expected to live in the school hostel for the entire school term and are only released when the schools closes and parents are allowed to make visits to the school to check on their children.

While they are at school, their basic necessities are well taken care of as caretakers are engaged to attend to their well-being.

This is also meant to create a conducive environment in the absence of their parents.

Necessary arrangements are also made so as to transport the children from their homesteads to the school at the beginning of every school term and be returned when the schools close.

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development chief education ffficer of the Tutume sub-district, Ms Luzile Mudongo explained in an interview that the current enrolment at the school for both the day and boarder learners stands at 204.

She said the number has increased tremendously, citing that in 2011, they only had a total intake of 151 pupils and highlighted that the school has reception classes and all the streams up to Standard seven have teachers.

Moreover, Ms Mudongo indicated that the school is one of those with a satisfactory performance in the region, noting that learners have always managed to get third class and better grades for their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results.

“For the past five years, Maposa Primary has been doing exceptionally well in their PSLE results. They have managed to exceed the national target pass rate of 76 per cent. It was only in 2012 that they got a 67 per cent, however in 2013 and 2014, they managed to pull up to 75 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, while last year they stood at 86.2 per cent,” she said.

Ms Mudongo further noted that they are impressed by the level of discipline displayed by the pupils.

She cited that though these pupils are normally taken away from their parents for a while, they have not experienced cases of absconding from school, drop outs and other disturbing behavioral patterns.

Meanwhile the school head, Ms Neo Tafa expressed appreciation over the partnership between teachers and parents.

She indicated that the strong partnership established has helped them tackle a lot of challenges they encountered.

“We normally accommodate 100 boarders here, though there are caretakers engaged to help them with issues of personal hygiene and others, some parents often volunteer to help with cleaning up the school environment, hostels and the ablution block,” she said.

Ms Tafa also said they have a strong Parents Teachers Association committee which is always up front with educational issues and they often organize motivational talks so as to encourage pupils.

She also said though most parents from the settlements depend mainly on rearing livestock and other social errands such as grass cutting, it is impressive that  most of them never interfere with the academics of their children by sending them on such errands during school days.

Ms Tafa said lack of electricity, which has been one of the major challengers within the school, has now been dealt with as connection of electricity is underway.

She also said they are awaiting installation of extra two water tanks so as to address the challenges of shortage of water within the school. ENDS