Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
ST Joseph’s Mutare High School is now reaping the fruits of its sustained efforts to nurture well behaved and mannered learners from different and diverse backgrounds as it is achieving commendable academic and social results.
The school has been on a steady rise, achieving remarkable success in ZIMSEC examinations, sporting and cultural activities.
At the recently held Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare 2024 Merit Awards, the school scooped four trophies, six shields and several medals for individual learners.
It also bagged the prestigious Catholic Social Teachings award for its well-structured implementation of social activities grounded on Christian values.
The school headmaster, Mr Abold Chari, said discipline is the cornerstone of the school, and credited the Responsible Authority, teachers and the community for the harmonious working relationship to mould well behaved and disciplined learners, who mostly hail from high-density areas of Mutare.
Last year, it had 15 learners with 15 points at Advanced Level, while six others managed 6As and above at Ordinary Level.
“St Joseph’s High School is from a high-density suburb where we have quite a range of learners in terms of their behaviour.
‘‘We have managed to educate our learners through various systems like guidance and counselling, and we have successfully turned some of the most difficult learners into perfect citizens such that our discipline has totally improved in such a way that we do not have serious challenges.
“We work closely with parents, teachers and the Responsible Authority to come up with a well-disciplined community. Discipline has resulted in the improvement of our pass-rate especially in the last three years.
‘‘Both Advanced and Ordinary Level results have improved, and the good results are also from our endeavour to create a child friendly environment using the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Roman Catholic Church policies.
“The School Development Committee being assisted by parents have managed to improve the infrastructure at the school. We are trying by all means to change our teaching systems and fully embrace technology as espoused in the heritage based curriculum. We are introducing the use of interactive boards at the school, and the SDC is already working towards achieving that.
;;Our teachers are being trained to make sure that they are well versed in that particular area,” said Mr Chari.
The school administrator, Father Marvellous Tawanda Murungu, credited the institution’s rise to team work and collaboration among key stakeholders, including community members.
“The number of awards we scooped at the Merit Award communicate a message of the work being done here.
‘‘It is a combined effort, team spirit and cooperation among members of the staff that has helped us to reach this milestone.
“Decision making process is a combined effort at this school. Different stakeholders give their inputs and have the freedom to share their own vision about the school.
The church has its own mission, so is the ministry, and we combine the two to achieve greatness. Teamwork is the groundwork and foundation to everything we do here.
As leaders, we are listeners, have emotional intelligence and work with others to achieve our mission and vision,” said Father Murungu.
