Bulawayo City Council (BCC) needs to do more to improve the provision of adequate education services at council schools to meet the demands of the growing population in communities, stakeholders have said.
This came out during an X space held by CITE on Friday, reviewing the 2024 council budget.
The council set aside US$4.9 million for education-related capital expenditure, which includes the construction of new libraries at Mahatshula, Emakhandeni, and Cowdray Park, and the refurbishing of Nkulumane Library.
The council said two classroom blocks are planned at Ngwalongwalo Primary and Vulindlela Primary (funded from Devolution funds), and there are plans to construct a new school, Khuzwayo Primary, and build a science laboratory at Sizalendaba Secondary School.
However, stakeholders said the council needs to do more to improve education infrastructure and accessibility for all learners, including people with disabilities (PWDs).
Precious Luphahla, Citizen Engagement and Movement Building Officer for Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) said there is a need for the council to increase infrastructure at council schools so that they can accommodate all learners, considering that the population is growing.
“There is a lot that needs to be done in terms of improving education infrastructure,” Luphahla said. “Our population in Bulawayo keeps growing, so to accommodate all learners, there is a need to have adequate resources. There is a need to build more classrooms that are adequate and accessible to all.”
Tsepang Nare, a Disability Development Consultant, said the council needs to have facilities that cater for PWDs.
“In terms of the education sector, we need to have holistic access for PWDs,” Nare said. “It is one thing to have school buildings that are user-friendly for them, and it is another thing to have other enabling services. The schools must have teachers who can teach learners who use Braille, teachers who can communicate in sign language.
“The council says they have allocated a certain amount of money to build schools, it is quite commendable. But we need to know how much percentage of that amount will benefit PWDs. Having access to a building must be accompanied by accessing services as well.”
Stakeholders also noted that there is a need to have monitoring tools that will allow tracking of progress of how the budget is being implemented following its allocations.
“There is need to look beyond just the figures,” Luphahla said. “Let’s look at the health allocation, for instance. Is it going to avail adequate medication to the sick? Will maternal services be adequately provided? The council says it will build two more clinics. Will they be accessible to PWDs? Will they have adequate resources to meet the demands of the residents? These are some of the issues that we need to closely monitor in terms of the budget provisions as the year progresses.”
