Government and Taiwanese officials have pledged a joint effort to upgrade infrastructure at St. Joseph’s School, with a focus on improving conditions for children living with disabilities. The project, worth E6.3 million, will include hostel refurbishments, new kitchens, and toilet upgrades.
During a site visit on Monday, Acting Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, accompanied by Education Minister Owen Nxumalo and Principal Secretary Nanikie Mnisi, visited St. Joseph’s Primary School in Mzimpofu to inspect the state of facilities. The tour revealed dilapidated hostel blocks with leaking roofs and damaged infrastructure, which government says will be addressed before the next rainy season.
The initiative, carried out through Micro Projects and supported by the Catholic Church, seeks to expand hostel space and improve accessibility for learners who use wheelchairs.
Minister Nxumalo said the ministry will also push for the procurement of assistive learning devices for deaf and blind pupils. He added that these tools will be included in the next education budget.
The delegation later visited the School for the Deaf in Siteki, where staff shared daily challenges faced by learners and caregivers. Pupils currently walk long distances to use toilets, and staff still wash clothes manually in cold water.
Plans are underway to install industrial laundry equipment and modern toilets to ease the burden on both learners and caregivers.
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