The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has given thumps up to operations of the Scouts Movement in helping mould innovative, complete and responsible youngsters in and outside the school environment.
This came to light in a communiqué between the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education offices and the Manicaland Scouts Association.
“The Provincial Education Director appreciated the role your organization endevours to pursue in schools. We have no objections in your request to operate as one of the clubs in schools and use weekends for outdoor activities such as camping,” reads part of a recent letter signed by the PED addressed to the Manicaland Scouts Association.
Speaking at a recen scouts meeting held in Mutare, the Scouts Commissioner for Manicaland Mr Ernest Mungwari emphasized the need for leaders to volunteer honestly.
Mr Mungwari expressed gratification at the increasing number of school teachers joining the scouting movement.
“We are grateful to the increasing numbers of school teachers who are seeing the need to play their role in scouting promotion. This gives us the impetus to continue facilitating more participation of educationists. This development could not have come at a better time given the recent endorsement of our activities by the Provincial Education Directorate. We are indeed grateful to the education sector for appreciating our efforts in building a better society.
From left, Manicaland Scouts Commissioner Mr Ernest Mungwari, Harare Province Scouts chairman Mr Mandipira and Scouts trainee Mr Thomas Mabika.
“Volunteering is a key component of scouting. It entails committing oneself to work for children, helping them to develop into responsible youths who are useful to themselves and others. You must know that when you are volunteering you are expected to use your own resources including financial without expecting to get refunds,” he said.
Ideally, the purpose of the Scout Movement is to contribute to the development of young people and achieving their full physical, social, spiritual potential as individuals and become responsible citizens in their respective local, national and international communities.
This will be achieved with the help of scout leaders whose responsibility is to help the young people develop by training them and help them learn scouting rules and regulations.
The Scout training is done in outdoor environment to make a clear distinction with the formal academic environment. The training of scouts is done in schools, churches or in open groups in residential areas where young people gather to learn various skills.
The training of scouts is done by volunteers. These volunteers come from various backgrounds, some who were scouts in their early years and others who get the interest much later in life.
The bulk of scout leaders in Manicaland Scouts Association are teachers since most groups are operating in schools. Volunteering is central to scouting and all scouts are encouraged to embrace it even in other spheres of their lives.
Recently the Manicaland Scouts Commissioner gathered a group of leaders in line with the province’s strategy to build scouting in the province. He emphasized the need to work closely with the school authorities to make sure that scouting does not disrupt the learning process but complement it.
To that effect, he stressed the need for leaders to seek the organization’s express authority before opening a scouts group.
“You cannot go on and appoint yourself a leader of a group without consulting with the leadership at provincial level. We are dealing with children hence we need people we can with minors. There are many cases of children abuse in the country at the moment and we as scouts must not fall in similar situation and for the reason we will leave no stone unturned in cleaning this organization of bad apples. In fact, scouting gives children the skills they need to defend themselves when exposed to situations they may be abused and for this to happen you need the right people,” he said.
The Scout Association of Zimbabwe recently published the latest version of the scouts syllabus which provides guidelines on how scouts are trained.
The book was availed to all leaders in the recent meeting in Manicaland and the provincial commissioner encouraged all leaders to get a copy of the book so that all activities are standardized. The book gives clear guidelines on how the scouting process is carried out. This book will go a long way in improving standards of the scouting in Manicaland and Zimbabwe at large.
Meanwhile, thriving secondary school institution in Mutare, First Class Academy has also hailed the operations of the Manicaland Scouts Association.
“The school appreciates the successful educational farm visit at your Toronto Farm. Our Form Three students and the Scouts Group members have benefitted a lot in the following areas: horticulture, rabbit production, dog production and farm agriculture machinery. The students experienced hands on activities,” reads part of the letter of appreciation from the school to the movement.
