‘Adventist education for production service in this world and the world to come’

Sandisiwe Gumbo, Sunday News Reporter

SITUATED at the heart of Matobo district along Bulawayo-Maphisa Road, Shashane Adventist High School has managed to build its reputation on a moral high ground of integrity, spiritual values and ubuntu and aims to produce productive students who can make positive contribution to society through inculcating practical and academic skills. 

The school recently held its annual prize-giving ceremony where it celebrated its high academic achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to providing a holistic education that brings a seamless co-ordination between the head, heart and hand. The celebration ran under the theme “Adventist education for production service in this world and the world to come.” 

The school headmaster, Mr Wiseman Ngwenya, said the motivation behind the theme was their desire to produce a holistic education system.

“We need to produce a balanced education that promotes academic achievement, physical needs and moral values. As a school we believe in providing an education that glorifies God, instilling moral values and ethics in our students. 

“By nurturing their spiritual growth alongside their academic development, Shashane Adventist High School strives to create well-rounded individuals who can make a difference in the world,” said Mr Ngwenya. 

He said the school has made numerous efforts to ensure they produce quality students, while a learner coming out of their education system should be a job creator rather than being a job seeker. 

Mr Ngwenya said their students should be productive individuals and not those that depend on other people. 

“As a school our system strives to give to learners an education that glorifies God and benefits humanity here on this earth. Through our regular devotional sessions, we train the hearts of all our learners and workers such that they are in line with God. Our school programmes always put God first, while learners and workers are taught Christian values such as integrity, ubuntu and spirituality.”

He said as a church school, they focus on teaching not only academic subjects but also practical skills that are essential for students’ future success, including driving lessons. 

“In line with Education 5.0, which emphasises on imparting life skills to learners or productive education, our learners are also given some practical skills of survival that is the training of the hand. Life skills that include garment making, construction, technology and design, furniture making, hairdressing, driving and agriculture production are taught to our learners. At any exit point, our learners should have acquired at least one life skill that would enable them to earn a living.”

Mr Ngwenya said their curriculum offers a wide range of subjects at both Ordinary (O) and Advanced (A) levels, including commercial, arts and science disciplines. The comprehensive approach ensures that learners are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in various fields.

The event was graced by Advocate Dumisani Dube, a lawyer and founder of Dube Legal Practice, who emphasised the value of Adventist education provided by the school. He said the importance of education that fosters constructive and purposeful lives was significant for spiritual development in shaping the character and values of a child. 

“As an Adventist School, we provide education that builds constructive habits for life, as Shashane Adventist High School we believe in unlocking potential and birthing destinies as we groom learners to be self-sustainable here at school and also in another dimension to come as they face life after school. 

“As Adventists, we believe in the spiritual development of the child. We have an education system that develops our triune being that is ministering to the spirit, soul and body. The purpose of education here is to help the learners to attain spiritual growth along with their mental and physical growth.” 

Advocate Dube also praised the school’s efforts in enrolling staff members who adhere to the Adventist philosophy of education and acknowledged their dedication and contribution to creating an environment conducive to learning and character development.

He commended the school for its commitment to nurturing students’ spiritual growth alongside academic excellence. Advocate Dube took the opportunity to extend his heartfelt appreciation to the teachers for their hard work and dedication.

Going forward, Shashane Adventist High School has plans to transform into a full boarding school as the transition will provide students with a conducive environment for learning and personal growth. 

As part of this expansion, construction has already begun on a new dining hall and teachers’ cottage as the facilities will enhance the overall experience for both students and staff, fostering a sense of community within the school.

The headmaster said: “As a low-cost boarding school, our aim is to achieve full boarding status early next year. Through working with AFC Commercial Bank (formerly Agribank) the school has started construction of the dining hall, teacher’s cottage and has already purchased a commuter omnibus. The school is growing in leaps and bounds both infrastructurally and in enrolment.”

He said through partnerships with local businesses and a focus on holistic development, the school aims to produce productive and well-rounded individuals who can positively impact society.  With plans for expansion and the construction of new facilities, Shashane is poised to provide an even better learning environment for its students.

During the prize-giving ceremony, students walked away with several prizes that were sponsored by the local Bakers Inn in the form of monetary contributions and stationery. Mr Ngwenya extended gratitude to other sponsors that include Savemore Stores, Siyatsha Trading, FuserTech, Paper House (Bulawayo), Mr and Mrs Mlilo (Parents), Omarcell, World Vision (Maphisa) and Mandy Bookstore who made the event possible.