The long walk to school for Ntondola children

The settlement, which years back had only a few scattered dwellings, now boasts of about 100 residents with their children schooling at Shangano Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Nshakazhogwe Primary School. When schools are open, it is common to see children in uniforms lining the road, either going to school or home.  For the adolescents, it will be to and from Shangano located between Nshakazhogwe and Sebina. The pre-pubescent children would be heading either to or from Nshangazhogwe Primary School.

These children, from both the junior secondary and primary schools, cover a distance of roughly 30kms every weekday. Though both the parents and teachers have resigned themselves to the fate of their children, alarming cases of pregnancies among female students at Shangano are making caretakers rethink. And, the fact that small children walk along the Tutume-Sebina Road, does not sit well with parents, as they fear that their children could be run over by vehicles.