The Role of Urban Primary and Secondary Schools in Minimizing Disease Outbreak Caused by Environmental Contamination: A Case of Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Waste management is a major challenge facing urban councils in Zimbabwe and Chinhoyi Municipality is no exception. Lack of resources and technical and administrative know-how is hindering proper waste management. Raw sewage and industrial waste flow into streams and rivers and uncollected rubbish bins and strewn litter is a common feature in the municipal area. The city has had serious cholera outbreaks that affected adults, school children and children before school age. The primary school environmental studies syllabus and the secondary school health education syllabus have been in place, but preliminary findings indicate that these syllabi do not equip learners with knowledge and skills to combat the outbreak of diseases like cholera. The Department of Curriculum and Instruction sought to establish the role that schools play in minimizing disease outbreaks in their environments through environmental studies and health education. The case study included three primary schools and three secondary schools under the Chinhoyi Municipality. Data were collected using observation guides, questionnaires for secondary pupils and teachers, excursions, documents and interviews with primary school pupils, school heads, health inspectors and municipality officials. The data were then presented qualitatively aided by graphs and pie charts. The study indicated that school pupils were not active in waste management in the urban areas. It was also found that teachers were not making any reference to disease outbreaks during lessons on environmental studies. The teacher education programme should include a course on waste management, so as to develop in learners a positive attitude towards proper waste disposal behavior .