PLAN International Zimbabwe through support from Japan constructed classroom blocks and drilled solar-powered boreholes at Mgandani and Sibangani secondary schools in Zhombe and Silobela, respectively.
The schools were once satellite schools, which saw students attending lessons in the open before the intervention of the Japanese embassy.
Speaking on the sidelines of a tour of Mgandani School in Zhombe on Tuesday, Plan International programme area manager for Midlands, Lynah Matsikiti, said they received US$400 000 funding for the project.
“We are excited about this project because as Plan International, we advance children’s rights and equality for girls,” she said.
“As Plan International Zimbabwe and our sister office Plan International Japan, we got funding which was over US$400 000 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan to construct two classroom blocks at Mgandani School as well as another two blocks at Sibangani.
“Solar-powered boreholes were also drilled as well as the purchase of furniture for the schools.”
In an interview, Mgandani School head David Dhliwayo said the pass rate had improved after the school was turned from a satellite school to a full-fledged learning centre.
“Before this intervention, the school was a satellite school and children would walk long distances of over 8km,” he said.
“In 2019 and 2020, we had a zero percent pass rate, but after the construction of these classroom blocks, in 2021 and 2023, the pass rate improved to 5% and 7,8%, respectively.”
Dhliwayo said enrolment increased from 186 in 2019 to 334 in 2024, of which 171 are girls.
He said there were 13 learners accommodated at the teachers’ cottages as borders and appealed to the Japanese embassy to assist with the construction of low-cost boarding facilities to cater for students who come from distant communities.
