Donation of Textbooks Boosts Learning at Zhaugwe Primary School

By Leana Padera (Communications Graduate Intern)

Learning has been completely transformed at Zhaugwe Primary School, thanks to the impactful support provided by World Vision Zimbabwe through the Anglo-American funded Sustainable Transformations in Education Performance (STEP UP) project. The introduction of donated library books and textbooks has made a remarkable difference in the lives of the children, addressing the previous challenges they faced.

Prior to this intervention, the school suffered from a severe shortage of textbooks, which had a direct impact on the academic performance of the students. Insufficient access to textbooks made it difficult for teachers to effectively deliver lessons. However, with the generous donation of textbooks, the positive changes have been undeniable.

Samuel Rwambiwa, the Headmaster of Zhaugwe Primary School, expressed his gratitude, stating, "The learner textbook ratio was really bad, with ten students sharing one textbook." Fortunately, this ratio has significantly improved, leading to a remarkable shift in the relationships among the learners themselves. Previously, conflicts would arise as students fought over the limited copies, resulting in damaged textbooks. However, such incidents of bullying and damage have become rare occurrences, fostering a more harmonious and conducive learning environment.

Furthermore, the impact goes beyond textbooks. Last year, the school received a total of 658 textbooks and an impressive 1,290 library books. These valuable resources have inspired both teachers and students to invest more effort in their studies. The students' comprehension of the English language and their reading abilities have shown remarkable improvement.

With great joy, Rwambiwa proudly shared, "Our pass rate has improved from 0% to 18.1% ever since we received this invaluable assistance." The positive impact of the project is also evident in the provision of 100 student tables and 100 student chairs, which have significantly enhanced the overall learning environment.

Portia Gonyora, World Vision Zimbabwe's Accountability, Monitoring and Evaluation for the STEP UP project expressed her satisfaction, saying, "We are pleased that our interventions have resulted in such positive changes at this school, and we are grateful to have been able to provide this support."

The STEP UP project has proven to be life-changing for students facing educational difficulties. Its overarching goal is to remove barriers that hinder learners from excelling in school, and the remarkable success witnessed at Zhaugwe Primary School is a testament to the project's effectiveness.