Online Reporter
Ryan Sibanda and Fortune Makoni Chronicle Writers
SOMVUBU High School and AMR Sisters Primary School are the 2026 Secretary’s Merit Award champions in recognition of excellence in implementing the Heritage-Based Curriculum, strong academic results and viable commercial projects.
The awards were presented during a colourful ceremony on Thursday in Bubi district, Matabeleland North province.
This was the sixth province where the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education celebrated outstanding schools this year.
Each year, 10 primary schools and an equal number of secondary schools are honoured for translating Government policy into meaningful learning experiences that contribute to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.
Presenting the awards, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary, Mr Moses Mhike
, said the occasion honours schools that have turned policy into results.
“This occasion celebrates excellence, innovation, resilience, and commitment to quality education. More importantly, it honours schools that have successfully translated Government policy into meaningful learning experiences that prepare our pupils to contribute to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation,” he said.
“The Heritage-Based Curriculum, which the ministry is implementing, is crucial to realising national aspirations as we progress towards an Upper-Middle- Income Economy by 2030.
Mr Mhike said driven by the principles of Heritage-Based Education, the framework aims to develop competent, innovative, and patriotic citizens equipped with the essential problem-solving skills to meet contemporary economic demands.
AMR Sisters Primary, established in 2017 at Lupane Centre under the AMR Sisters Congregation, has grown to 505 pupils in eight years. The school recorded 90 percent Grade Seven pass rate in 2023, slightly dropped to 88 percent in 2024 and shot up to 92 percent in 2025” which the ministry credited to effective instructional leadership and HBC’s focus on practical skills.
Beyond academics, the school was crowned the National Association of Primary Heads Choral Champions in both 2023 and 2025, and excelled in Heritage Quiz competitions, gastronomy and traditional dance.
Mr Mhike noted that the school has embraced ‘experiential learning’ through production, establishing poultry, rabbitry, horticulture, greenhouse farming, and an orchard.
“These projects equip pupils with practical agricultural and entrepreneurial skills while generating resources to support vulnerable pupils and enhance school programmes,” he said.
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Infrastructure investments include a new ECD block, solar-powered campus, 72-seater bus and modern school hall.
Somvubu High, established in 2000 as a rural boarding school, now enrolls 1 345 pupils. It has maintained a 100 percent pass rate at Advanced Level in 2023, 2024, and 2025, an exceptional accomplishment that reflects strong school leadership, dedicated teachers, and hardworking pupils, said Mr Mhike.
Its Ordinary Level results stood at 72,13 percent in 2023, 72,7 percent in 2024, and 56 percent in 2025. The school said remedial lessons and data-driven monitoring are underway to reverse the 2025 decline.
Mr Mhike highlighted how HBC has driven Somvubu’s success, noting the school offers a broad STEM curriculum comprising Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, and Combined Science while integrating Information and Communication Technology into teaching and learning.
“This prepares pupils for participation in a modern, technology-driven economy while strengthening Zimbabwe’s human capital base,” he said.
The school was also named Best ‘A’ Level Rural School in Matabeleland North, won the 2025 National Cerevita Quiz, and was National Public Speaking Champion in 2024 and 2025. In sport, it has produced footballers for Zimbabwe’s junior national teams.
Somvubu High headmaster Mr Khumbulani Sibanda said the recognition was a career highlight.
“This is the highest accolade any headmaster can get in their career and I am humbled to be one of the few to receive such an honour,” said Mr Sibanda.
Receiving the award on behalf of both institutions, AMR Sisters headmistress Sister Praxedis Nyathi pledged to expand practical projects.
“We will keep improving on quality passes, expand our practical projects, strengthen the bridge from primary to high school and continue producing learners who are excellent in class, excellent in character and ready to drive vision 2030,” she said.
Somvubu High head girl Agatha Ncube said: “The ceremony showcases our schools determination to academic excellence”.
Thabo Mpofu, the highest academic achieving Grade 7 pupilr at AMR Sisters, said he was grateful for the support given to top performers.
“I expressed joy at being equipped with portable solar lights to help me through load shedding and it showed me how education rewards hard work,” he said.
Both schools run Home Grown School Feeding Programmes and commercial ventures, supported by strong School
Development Committee partnerships.
In closing, Mr Mhike extended warmest congratulations to AMR Sisters Primary School and Somvubu High School for a well-deserved recognition.
He said this was a result of dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment, which must continue to foster and uphold a culture of excellence within the education sector.
