Morris Mtisi
The second term calendar has started. Your education writer-analyst is aware there is a darkish cloud ominously hovering above schools as we speak. But let us not forget the silver line in every cloud.
Manicaland always leads other provinces in examination results. The best schools, the best teachers and the best students are in Manicaland, if the annual examination results are anything to go by.
It is good manners to remember the Manicaland record and once in a while congratulate those who make the best results in the country possible.
Your Manica Post education guest columnist and DiamondFM Radio teacher wants to take this opportunity to first thank the Provincial Education Director for keeping education standards the best in the country and wishing him well in his mammoth task to keep Manicaland leading and others following. Thank you Mr Edward Shumba.
You are stirring the ship safely, comfortably and in the right direction. We are aware your job is not easy. You are always on the receiving end of armchair critics and always on the official radar. People look for what you do not-so-well and forget what you do perfectly. That is human, perhaps African nature.
This is one rare moment a sincere, professional and objective critic feels it is high time you deserved positive appraisal. Let the lion continue to roar in you but like the real master of the jungle-Shumba, love your family of school heads and teachers and protect them. Make sure they are well fed and safe. That is what lions do.
Cross Kopje Junior School! The Golden girls-Mrs Ruth Gezana, Sandra Mutowo, Mashayamombe and Chirima . . . Mrs Saurombe, you are the best for young learners. They need those assuring smiles and that firmness in love; the vast teaching experience and commitment to duty. Despite the challenges, these will always be there, take this wonderful junior school to dizzy heights. You are the ‘war veterans’ in education. Aluta continua!
Mr Mutsongodza and Mr Chiwara of First Class Academy and your team, it is time to enjoy your share of public recognition. There is nothing informal anymore about First Class Academy. It is far better than lots of so-called formal schools; far better in every sense. Keep up the good work. Your uniqueness in educational community development is visible and not possible to ignore. There are no short cuts to genuine achievement. Tighten up integrity, honesty and professionalism to build a genuine legacy.
Alpha Institute-Nangisayi Marange and your team! Enjoy sincere appraisal of a great independent institute. Your leadership style and concern about producing both candidates for Zimsec and candidates for Heaven are outstanding.
While many private institutions do well on academic achievement, sporting and the rest of it, they do very badly on behavioural transformation of their students. Education without God is dead. There is no euphemism about it. Keep up the excellent work. I know you are busy doing God’s work. I can assure you He is busy doing your work. That is what makes Alpha different, unique and special.
Moses Mukoyi at St Faith’s High School . . . and your lieutenants! You are in the High Command of special academic cadres in the leadership of schools. You are brave, intelligent and humble. You are a role model of administrative competence. A school does not just move like a ufo- (unidentified flying object.) flying from nowhere to nowhere.
It needs a driver, a competent one. You have made every parent of every child at your school proud. You have done Manicaland and Zimbabwe proud. Receive this sincere recognition from The Manica Post-education guest columnist and analyst. Remember my wish! Leave St Faith’s at 97. If that is not possible, leave at 95.
Mr Chimbade of Mavhudzi! Don’t forget your school was founded on the hopes, wishes and aspirations of those who fought for this country and died. Mavhudzi was an epitome of the dreams and desires of the war-of-liberation family; a dream school of those whose historical background was rooted in the armed struggle. The Manica Post is aware the spirit of the armed struggle’s commitment and sacrificial effort is still there.
We are in it together and are prepared to always write a good story about this great school founded on the inspiration of armed struggle. Lest we forget! If armed struggle broke chains of slavery, surely Mavhudzi can command an education that breaks chains of ignorance and poverty amongst all enrolled at this wonderful school in that spirit.
Sydney Chirombe and the Tsambe admin team and teachers! This school was once upon a time the jewel of the nation; the bastion of excellence and inimitable achievement. I am not sorry to remind you of what Tsambe is not now. You are certainly doing a lot to keep the school at the top. Good, because that is where it belongs. But you and I know. Tsambe is not even a shadow of what it used to be.
The reasons are not few; the economy itself, the times and the crop of students who are not afraid of settling for mediocrity, teachers who don’t love one another and pull in one direction but fan school factionalism against each other and everybody. This school deserves a genuine new dispensation which focuses and majors on issues and not tissues; a team of teachers and administrators that pulls in one direction anchored on oneness and seriousness of purpose. A school that is a theatre of wars, a haven of backbiting, intriguing and bickering will never excel except in lowering standards.
Rimbi High School in Chipinge, with Phineas Mundeta and company ‘private limited!’ Is this not the biggest high school in Manicaland in terms of enrolment? The examination results must reflect the size of the school. You were chosen to lead an army of able teachers. You can do it. We wish you much better results and achievement the same way we wish . . . at Chibuwe High School and Mapuranga at Gideon Mhlanga High School.
Where are you Chikore and Mt Selinda High Schools? We hear every day and so are aware you are doing your best under very difficult circumstances and conditions. But nothing ever came on a silver platter. Take a leaf from the story of the armed struggle. It was commitment, dedication and sacrifice that brought freedom. These two schools can become the education gems of Chipinge again.
What is needed is unity of purpose and genuine hatred of useless in-fights and nameless factionalism. No Joshuas, Moseses, Daniels, Ezekias or Isaiahs are needed to run these schools. Anybody committed to unity and seriousness of purpose can take these schools out of Egypt into Canaan. We need leaders in these schools and not rulers. And these leaders are already there. Allow them to do their work as professionally and as best they can. These schools can and will produce new Zvobgos, Mahakas, Chatikobos, David Zamuchiyas and many other heroes and heroines whose legacies history will keep forever.
We recognise the excellence of Milestone (Mai Mupfunya hello . . . where are you hiding?) and Hillcrest Groups of Schools. Keep up maintaining high standards of a unique type of education that develops a total child available to face the challenges of a 21st century education and world. We wish you well, better visibility and recognition. Elles Group of Schools! Hello Memory Maunze. Don’t give up! You are a great leader. You are an inimitable role model. The sun will rise again . . . tomorrow.
Who can talk about best schools in Manicaland and forget Knowstics Academy and St David’s-Bonda? Thank you the Mukuwapasis and Mr Samanga respectively. You are certainly part of the cream of Manicaland schools. Knowstics, you are silent with your unique programmes of 21st century education skills. Allow us to write about them until everyone knows. Sharing wisdom with those who need it is not boasting; it is enlightenment.
Nyamandwe and the boys at Marist Brothers! You have maintained excellent workmanship and high standards of education. You have able and dedicated teachers and highly competitive students. What else do you need? Is there nothing above the best? We expect a new best at Marist. Everything and everybody is in place. So why not? But for today and now enjoy our sincere appreciation of your splendid and consistent performance.
We know of many schools that are doing well in Manicaland. We cannot mention all of them by name, Riverside College in Odzi-for this writer the best and fastest upcoming new school, St Dominics in Mutare openly challenging the traditional heavyweights. Lydia Chimonyo, Mutambara and Biriiri in the Chimanimani escarpment, St Columbus in the Honde Valley, Emmanuel and Regina Coeli in Nyanga! You are all part of the legion of excellence that keeps Manicand where it deserves; at the top. Thank you every other school. No school is too small. Every school has its best. And that is what we want to see, hear and write about. We do not enjoy writing about students’ or teachers’ strikes, half-hearted negotiations characterised by threats and counter-threats and furtive arm-twisting.