Eveline High School celebrates over a century of excellence

Tanaka Nkala, [email protected]

ONE of Bulawayo’s oldest and most prestigious girls’ schools, Eveline High School, has reaffirmed its status as a centre of excellence after recording outstanding academic results, pioneering environmental innovation and excelling in extracurricular activities.

Founded in 1910 by Sir Milton and Lady Eveline, the educational institution was established to groom young women capable of making meaningful contributions to national development. More than a century later, that founding vision remains firmly intact.

Headmistress Mrs Doris Ngwenya said Eveline High prides itself on nurturing character alongside academic achievement, deliberately shaping learners into confident and principled young women.

“From the day they arrive, we refer to them as ladies so that they begin to see themselves as upright, truthful and independent young women,” she said.

The all-girls’ day and boarding school currently has an enrolment of about 750 learners supported by 47 teachers, with numbers boosted by the recent intake of Lower Sixth students.

Despite not screening learners on entry, Eveline High continues to post impressive academic performances. In the 2025 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations, the school recorded remarkable improvements.

At Advanced Level, the overall pass rate surged from 68 percent to an impressive 90,4 percent, with four science students attaining 19 points, while others followed closely with 18 and 17 points. At Ordinary Level, the pass rate improved by five percent, surpassing the national average.

“Our strength lies in hard work. We take learners with ordinary entry points and mould them into exceptional achievers,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

The school also retained 98 percent of its O-Level graduates into Lower Sixth, a strong indicator of growing confidence among parents and learners.

One such learner is Adell Sithole, a Lower Six sciences student and talented tennis player, who sat for 10 subjects and earned seven As and three Bs.

“It’s not the school that makes the child, but the child that makes the school. Learners must resist peer pressure and plan early for their future careers,” she said.

Beyond academics, Eveline High has gained national and international recognition for innovation through its Green Cycle Project, an environmental initiative commissioned by Bulawayo mayor Councillor David Coltart in May last year.

The project converts organic waste from city markets into liquid organic fertiliser using recycled materials. The fertiliser has been donated to hospitals, schools and community gardens in areas such as Makokoba, while the school also donated five metal waste bins to Bulawayo City Council.

The initiative attracted the attention of the United States-based organisation Siena Solutions, which identified it as one of the most impactful community-driven environmental projects.

Deputy head Mr Thabani Moyo applauded the staff, parents and the School Development Committee, chaired by Mr Khameni Ngwenya, for their firm support.

The school plans to purchase a 77-seater bus to ease transport challenges and support academic and sporting activities.

Eveline High continues to shine beyond the classroom. The Drama Club represented Bulawayo at the National Schools Drama competitions, while the school emerged number one in the district in the Clean Schools Competition. Its golf team competed in Harare, while the darts team travelled as far as Zambia.

With strong discipline, committed parental support and a renewed focus on excellence, Eveline High School continues to live up to its enduring motto: “Upright and True.”

 

Eveline High School history

The school was opened on July 27th, 1910, by Lady Eveline Milton who consented to the school bearing her name. At the opening there was a staff of 8 – the headmistress, Miss Grace Milne Langdon, Miss McArthur, Miss Livingstone, Miss M.A. Brown, Miss Bolan, Miss Stockdale, Miss Bishop and Mrs. Lewis. In 1970 the staff was 72.

At first 207 pupils were enrolled, in 1970 there were over 1,000 pupils. School fees in 1918 were about £2.15.0 a term and in 1918 there were four terms.

Miss Langdon decided upon the school colours – she chose Selous’ Pioneer Colours or as near she could do from a faded purgaree (hat-band) shown to her by a pioneer. These colours were chosen because Eveline was the Pioneer High School for girls under the Southern Rhodesian Education Department.

At first, Eveline had no hostel, so St. Margaret’s Hostel had to be rented. In 1911 the Eveline Hostel (later called Langdon) was built but this was soon inadequate so after 1913 nine cottages nearby were also rented. In 1923 Northward Hostel was built and named after Rhodes’ continual “Northward” gaze.

In 1928 McIntosh House was built and named after Mr. D. McInitosh, an Inspector of Schools.

The Junior Boarding Hostel was Newcombe House. In 1938 the Kindergarten and Junior classes were moved to Coghlan School to give more room to the Seniors. In 1931 the House system was inaugurated. There were four houses – Athlone, Buxton, Gladstone and Selborne, all named after former Governor-Generals of South Africa.

They included boarders and day scholars.  In 1942 they were re-organised – Langdon, McIntosh, and Northward became Boarder Houses; Buxton, Gladstone and Selborne were reserved for day scholars.  In 1952 two new houses were added – Athlone and Connaught.

Like the other schools, Eveline had houses and uniforms. Scholars wore a brown serge (in the winter) gymslip with a brown girdle over a cream blouse, black shoes and white socks, in winter they wore those horrible brown stockings. Summer brought brown cotton dresses with cream cuffs and peter pan collar.

Eveline was in Borrow Street (now Samuel Parirenyatwa), Bulawayo where most of the Government schools were.