Every year when the results for Ordinary and Advanced level examinations are released, there would be a number of pupils with strings of good grades and high points.
Some of the students, however, come from disadvantaged backgrounds and find it difficult to pursue further studies.
The Press is awash with names of whizzkids failing to realise their dreams because of financial constraints.
Recently, NewsDay ran a touching story of 14-year-old Chegutu student Maud Chifamba, who was set to enroll for a degree programme after making history by becoming the youngest student to qualify for undergraduate study. Sadly, at one point Maud had to study from home because she could not afford to raise tuition fees.
“After finishing primary school, I failed to proceed with my studies because of money problems, so I just used to study secondary school material form home,” Maud poured her heart out to NewsDay.
There are many students trapped in Maud’s circumstances throughout the country, but most of them go unnoticed because they do not have any medium to communicate with the outside world.
Every province in the country has its own geniuses, but most pupils resign themselves to fate, which determines their destiny, because in most cases their parents would be so poor they even struggle to put a decent meal on the table.
Sandra Kambuyi, who had a string of As at “O” Level, failed to pursue her studies because of financial constraints.
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“No one chipped in to help me and I had no clue about any scholarships, so I had to find ways to help my parents with the upbringing of my younger siblings. I ended up working here,” said Sandra who finished her “O” Levels at Kavaya Secondary School and has since then worked at a local Grain Marketing Board depot in Hurungwe as a clerk.
Some students said they tried to secure scholarships to no avail.
Mathamsanqa Sibanda was one of those who were resourceful enough to look around and went to the extent of applying for assistance for a scholarship, but nothing ever materialised and according to her, her future was no longer in her hands.
Mathamsanqa showed this reporter the email she sent describing her problem: “I am a young lady aged 20 exiled from Zimbabwe due to the political and economic instability. I am currently living in South Africa as an asylum seeker with both my parents and my younger sister (10).
“My father is a waiter and has to support the whole family, paying rentals of R3 500 a month. I applied to Unisa to study for a B Com in Accounting sciences (undergraduate) and was accepted, but I cannot afford to pay the registration and tuition fees.
“I passed GCE ‘A’ Level, but can not further my studies due to financial difficulties. I would be grateful if given an opportunity to continue with schoolwork,” wrote Mathamsanqa.
However, many bright students, especially in remote rural areas, have never heard about scholarships and in some instances only relief organisations come to their rescue.
Most students, who come from disadvantaged families, said it was difficult to secure scholarships from the presidential scholarship scheme.
Some parents expressed shock over the way in which the whole selection was conducted.
“I had a relative who had 20 points at ‘A’ Level and was very poor. We applied, but he could not get the funding. He is an orphan who depends on donor funds for his education. The whole process is flawed,” said Hilda Gureri, a concerned guardian.
The scheme has drawn a lot of ire from taxpayers who feel the government should invest in the country’s learning institutions rather than forking out a lot of money to South African universities.
University lecturer and economist Floyd Kadete said the government was using a patronage system instead of merit.
“This boils down to who you know. The whole system is flawed. We have good universities here,” said Kadete.
A group of 100 scholarship beneficiaries were given a send off recently by Manicaland governor Christopher Mushohwe.
Eyewitnesses said it was shocking to note that most students were dropped off at the venue in top-of-the-range cars, a clear testimony they were not from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Another group of 280 students left last week for South Africa. Mushohwe said 100 were still to secure places at universities. He said funding problems had seen them recruit less than 600 students nationwide.
“The programme did not receive enough money from the Ministry of Finance this year. We received $3 million instead of $53 million and that is why we didn’t take many students,” he added.
Mushohwe said students were supposed to work for their country for three years after graduation. The Presidential Scholarship Programme was founded in 1995 to give deserving students access to university education.
Each year, the programme, whose patron is President Robert Mugabe, draws students from the country’s 10 provinces.
