Mine Closure Impact on Mine Schools' Students Learning: The Case of Sutton Mine

Abstract

Although considerable work has been written on the economic, social, environmental and health effects of mine closure very little has been academically presented on mine closure effects on students learning. Post mine closure problems which affected Sutton Mine were investigated and their linkage to students learning established. Qualitative research methodology was used and random sampling techniques to establish representative samples of students and residents. Two sets of questionnaires were used, one for residents and the other for students. Interview and observation were used for gathering data. The researcher also used documents obtained from Sutton Mine Zim Alloys Pvt Limited offices, Sutton Mine Primary School, Sutton Mine Secondary School and Sutton Mine clinic to answer some of the research questions designed. The research established that the mine closure has negatively affected learning. Before mine closure Zim Alloys used to provide support services to Sutton Mine Primary School and Sutton Mine Secondary School. With Mine closure the support has since evaporated, undermining students learning at the schools. The economic and social status of residents at Sutton Mine was also found to have been changed for the worse. This has undermined performance in both the areas of sport and academics. After mine closure ZimAlloys did not put enough resources and effort to rehabilitate the local environment, which now pose a threat to students at two local schools. Overly the research established that Sutton Mine closure had a far-reaching negative bearing on local students learning. A number of recommendations were made by the research.