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Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
Government has hailed Epworth residents for transforming Domboramwari Secondary School from being a poor neighbourhood school into a state-of-the-art learning facility that seeks to promote the dictates of the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset.
This comes in the wake of the school’s construction of new learning blocks, which saw the first ever enrolment of Advanced Level students at the school this year.
Speaking during a ceremony to present the Secretary’s Merit Award to the school in Harare yesterday, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango, said schools should be development-oriented.
“Government is the people and the people are Government. We cannot separate these achievements from people at the grassroots,” she said.
“It should be understood that parents’ efforts are vital in complementing what the Government is doing towards promoting school development for the positive economic turnaround of the country.”
Dr Utete-Masango said development-oriented school heads and non-corrupt school authorities were the key to achieving quality education and learning facilities.
“For any school, you need an active school head who can lay a strong foundation for growth, and hats off to Mrs Ncube for a job well done in transforming Domboramwari Secondary into a first-class learning facility that is envied by the majority who never saw a future in this institution,” said Dr Utete-Masango.
Amongst other achievements Dr Utete-Masango hailed the school for improvement in infrastructure development which included a computer laboratory, proper WASH facilities and a viable poultry and rabbit project.
“You have won this prestigious award in which schools are assessed on school governance, curriculum innovation and compliance, non-formal education activities, learner achievements and infrastructural development,” she said.
“Domboramwari was judged in 2015 and came first against 89 secondary schools with a learner population of 96 724 in Harare province.”
Dr Utete-Masango said the awards, which are presented annually to 10 primary and 10 secondary schools, would help the ministry to monitor and promote quality education through com- petitions.
Zanu-PF Epworth Member of Parliament Cde Zalerah Makari described the ceremony as a proud moment for the usually looked-down upon constituency.
“We will continue to support such initiatives for low-income earners as they play a major role in promoting the Zim-Asset social responsibility cluster which also promotes quality education for everyone in the country,” she said.
School head Mrs Zondiwe Ncube said the school’s grades and results were improving.
“Our pupils are equal and they have the right to equal, quality education. For a community that is usually looked down upon, we have gone against all odds to ensure that quality education prevails for all. That is the driving force behind our achievements,” she said.
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