Fifty schools in contention for High Excellence Office honours

AT LEAST 50 schools have been shortlisted for the inaugural High Excellence Office Schools Awards, which will be held on January 31 at Rainbow Towers in Harare.

Organised by the High Excellence Office Society, the awards seek to recognise schools that demonstrate sustained excellence beyond examination results, following what organisers describe as a rigorous, field-verified assessment process.

“This is not merely a national accolade; it is intended to become Africa’s benchmark for school excellence,” said Nelson Sibanda, spokesperson for the High Excellence Office Society.

The invitation-only ceremony is expected to attract senior education officials, diplomats, international observers and selected members of the media.

Sibanda said 87 schools from across the country submitted applications after nominations opened in October.

Following an initial screening, 50 schools were shortlisted and underwent on-site assessments between November and December.

“These visits were conducted by independent assessors posing as parents to ensure fairness and authenticity,” he said.

Unlike traditional awards that focus primarily on pass rates, the High Excellence Office Schools Awards are based on what organisers term the “five pillars of excellence”: academic achievement; student wellbeing and character development; teacher excellence and professional development; institutional leadership and vision; and investment in infrastructure and community engagement.

Assessment criteria include strong national examination performance, innovation in teaching and learning, mental health and anti-bullying initiatives, teacher training and retention, leadership structures, and demonstrable community outreach and parental involvement.
Winners will be announced during the ceremony and will receive a range of honours.

Each grand-winning school will be presented with a gold-leafed Golden Plaque of Par Excellence.

Head teachers and principals will receive a Medal of High Office, while the top student leader at each winning school will be awarded a crystal statuette known as the Small Owl of Wisdom.

The names of all winners will also be recorded in a leather-bound Golden Book of Achievement to be displayed at their respective schools.

Sibanda added that international education leaders had been invited to observe and contribute to the judging process, reflecting the ambition to position the awards at a continental level.

“These schools did not simply meet standards; they set them,” the organisation said in a statement.

“They transformed learners and uplifted their communities.”

Organisers said nominations for the 2027 awards will open later next year, as the initiative aims to establish itself as an annual fixture on Zimbabwe’s education calendar.