The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Education Correspondent
ANYONE who professes not to know about St Faith’s High School in Makoni District in Rusape is either not living in Zimbabwe or simply an enemy who lies like a cheap watch. For decades all the day-glow high schools in Zimbabwe have been gradually giving way to this little magnificent Anglican Diocese school which, Robben Island-like, is perched in the middle of nowhere North East of Rusape town.
The school has attracted attention from admirers and enemies alike . . . in Zimbabwe and abroad, for two simple reasons: the name Moses Mukoyi and stubbornly unconquerable students at examination.
Between the decades of dynamic achievements at St Faith’s High School (were) are two extremes: a group of tough, unconquerable students on one extreme and a shrewd, illustrious, on-the-ball leader on another. Of course in between are and have been stories after stories of outstanding performances and achievements. These have been carefully and competently driven by a crop of laborious teachers, a duty-conscious ancillary staff and not only enlightened, but obliging, supportive parents.
While the story of St Faith’s decades of dynamic achievements could take volumes and volumes of pages to narrate . . . perhaps at best a little encyclopaedia, it could never be the length of its story that could best tell it. But indeed the record! It quietly speaks for itself. A compendious writer can tell the long marvellous story of this wonderful school very briefly without adulterating it with overdone narration and verbal superfluity. St Faith’s is an awesome story of dazzling success but essentially very short, sweet and simple. The journey to the top of the academic hill began in January 1991. It began with Moses Mukoyi packing his bags and family and leaving the iconic Tsambe — the St Augustine’s that was those years the Zimbabwean version of Oxford, Harvard or Cambridge University. Moses Mukoyi, like a self-effacing missionary seeking God’s glory and not his own fame, humbly settled in a humble house in a humble environment . . . a sacred grove one would call it, that would be for him home away from home for 28 years. Here he settled, not sure what tomorrow would bring or not bring. Little did he know that God had led him to an educational Canaan where sooner than later milk and honey would begin to flow. The small man with a big heart and brain settled. Gradually the milk and honey began to flow . . . then more and more . . . until everywhere it was milk and honey . . . sometimes even manna fell from Heaven! The rest is history. The name Moses is significant. Lest you forget!
As soon as St Faith’s sat at the top of Zimbabwe in ‘A’ level examination results, there was no going back. Manicaland shook to the roots with the outstanding examination results of one high school — St Faith’s. Then the whole nation echoed with the tremors of nothing else but unmatched footprints. Here and there . . . everywhere, it was St Faith’s to the end of Zimbabwe, the region and the world. What started as a pleasant surprise or unbelievable joke soon developed into a “bad” habit and ultimately a boring stubbornness to remain at the top year after year. In the years they performed badly, it did not mean some lucky high school stood nearby to overtake. There was always none in sight. The school seemingly alone in the race ended up by breaking its own record in the 2018 results . . . giving Moses Mukoyi a send-off into retirement to remember the rest of his life. In both ‘O’ and ‘A’ level courses, the 2018 results released early 2019 were the best in St Faith’s academic history of pulsating results. Mukogo Malvern obdurately scooped 17 As in his ‘O’ level results. This is a record short of a miracle-never done at St Faith’s . . . not anywhere in Zimbabwe! Why on earth someone chooses to study 17 learning areas (subjects) where only 5 suffice to qualify for an advanced learner’s course, you can only ask Malvern Mukogo and Moses Mukoyi. Intellectual mischief! Then the 108 students with 5As and above! Matimba Ronald and Murungweni Jeffrey T with 16 hot As apiece! The rest is history. As if Bs and Cs are not passes! Not at St Faith’s!
A meticulous breakdown of the year-to-year examination results over the decades, and details of each audacious feat of accomplishment student by student, would not only be a boring repetition for envious competitors and enemies but an unnecessary and painful continuation of the licking of their wounds. Schools hate being compared academically. They do not mind being rated in music, sporting and other games. Not examination results! No! Never! ‘Strange, isn’t it?’ the late Superstar Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi would ask? Most school heads start rollicking around how the education or school ground is not a level playing field . . . and how some schools operate in heaven while others exist in hell. Some of the very zealous and innovative-minded school heads end up verging on the brinks of suggesting different curriculums and examinations for different schools. The field of play is not level.
But very briefly, what would St Faith’s decades of academic flamboyance be attributed to? A resolute crop of students with an insatiable appetite for top-class achievement, a wild reading culture and intrepid instinct for excellence; a results-driven teaching team that will not settle for mediocrity; an enlightened, supportive parent body; above it all a people’s school head, a wise, shrewd, intelligent, smart, on-the ball headmaster who fears God. Anything short of the above put together cannot achieve what St Faith’s achieved in 28 years of Moses Mukoyi’s effervescent leadership.
It is worth noting, for those who want to learn, for every story of success or achievement is and must be a school for others; that schools that lack the above qualities and values languish in unending in-house conflicts and noises culminating into factions that leave the schools underperforming and in tears and tatters. If there is one thing that has killed schools in Zimbabwe, the biggest of them not spared, it is primitive leadership styles that create factions and disunity . . . not unlevel fields of play and lack of resources. These are excuses. Those who have been to St Faith’s will vouch for this reporter. St Faith’s is not a little England. It is by far less resourced than a lot of boarding schools. It simply cares and concentrates more on teaching and learning than walls. Team work too, is paramount in schools. St Faith’s knows this best. But team-work is not a piece of equipment or commodity purchased in a supermarket. It comes with a smart headmaster or mistress; a perceptive school head, an insightful leader . . . an intuitive game-changer. Moses Mukoyi was all that and more . . . compassionate, humble, meek, unassuming . . . all in one small body everyone is going to miss. By the time this story is published, the humble goal-getting headmaster shall have gracefully retired from the education fraternity.
He shall have begun sweet retirement at his private homestead-nine kilometres away from the school he took over from nothing and illustriously developed into a bastion of academic excellence. With the cost of education today in Zimbabwe, exacerbated by a screaming economy, no parent or guardian would like to bring their child to a school to sleep, to be taught by small-minded teachers who fight or quarrel every day between themselves or against the school head and his administrative team. And ultimately fail to leave the school with even the smallest dosage of wisdom or skill to survive in this ugly world. Many parents and students . . . both ex St Faith’s and current ones each have a good story to tell about Moses Mukoyi and the indomitable St Faith’s. He gave them a haven for growth, discipline and direction they will forever cherish. St Faith’s school was indeed a school beyond books. Likewise The Manica Post is proud to have associated with this great school. We will continue to associate with it. We have the hope and faith that the St Faith’s shining star will continue to shine and shine brighter and higher!
Meanwhile, this is the time to congratulate our own hero. Sister schools countrywide, banks and suppliers of goods and services, individual friends and organisations, well-wishers, all have started posting advertorial congratulatory and farewell messages to The Manica Post. We say thank you for being civilised. We need more Zimbabweans who recognise and appreciate other people’s achievements and accomplishments.
Please note: The Manica Post will continue to publish these adverts from all walks of life for as long as they continue to come in. Our treasured readers expect an exclusive interview with the retiring school head in the Friday 22 February 2019 edition of The Manica Post. Radio listeners will have an opportunity of listening to Moses Mukoyi’s inspiring story of a journey well travelled thus far…live on Diamond FM Radio’s Head-to-Head with MM programme of Thursday night 21 February 2019 between 8 and 9 o’clock. You do not want to miss this one! The Interview will be live on Diamond FM radio and you can also follow it live on Diamond FM’s Face-Book page www.facebook.com/diamondfmzim. Those who cannot access our Diamond FM 103.8 channel can enjoy our internet live-streaming facility on www.diamondfm.co.zw wherever they may be in the world. You can also catch Diamond FM radio by downloading the Diamond FM Application on Google PlayStore or i-Store . . . use earphones and enjoy perfect reception! The Thursday 28 February Head-to- Head with MM programme will feature parents whose children are at or went to St Faith’s . . . old and current students. Do not miss these chances to give our iconic Mukoyi a send-off that he deserves.
