Renovations at St Mary’s Primary School in Hwange are in full swing thanks to the generosity of Grand Circle Foundation (GCF) and guests of Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). A dilapidated two-storey building on the school property is being rehabilitated, converting it into five classrooms and a library.
One of the largest schools in the area with 845 students from ECD – Grade 7, enrolment is growing at St Mary’s. This brings with it the challenge of space to adequately cater for a growing number of students, making learning infrastructure a top priority. Having enough space is crucial for students’ learning, and while this should be the responsibility of the government, economic challenges and cash-strapped departments mean that no further money is put into education. With the added classrooms that this renovation will give, a significant difference will be made through the provision of more space, improving the quality of education that students are able to receive. Furthermore, a library will be hugely beneficial. The school currently has reading corners in many of the classrooms but having a library will give students a designated space outside of their classrooms and the opportunity to further their literacy skills.
On a recent visit to St Mary’s, we saw builders busy with the roofing for the building. New trusses and roofing sheets will ensure that the building is waterproof, providing the necessary shelter for the classrooms below, and will of course, make the building look very smart. Once this is complete, the builders will move on to the building itself, fixing up the walls and windows.
We would like to thank GCF and OAT for their continued support and are looking forward to providing updates on the progress of this renovation.
