adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
WHEN First Class Academy’s responsible authorities, Mr Stephen Mutsongodza and his wife, Tracey mooted the idea of giving repeaters and school drop-outs a second chance in life, no-one gave them the faintest sniffs that the college will one day emerge as an academic giant. True to their double-barrelled motto: ‘Where standards are set’ and ‘Carrying you over and beyond’, the college has continued making giant strides in academic circles, with records being broken year in year out.
With just a decade after opening their doors to the public, they have scored great achievements which some schools with decades of years of operating have never had even in their wildest nightmares.
In 2014, the college was ranked the best private college in the region. The region includes Manicaland, Harare, Mashonaland East, Central and West provinces. For their achievements, they were awarded a merit award, popularly known as the Secretary’s Bell.
The college’s academic excellence is now well documented and it is now rubbing shoulders with the crème de la crème of achievers in the province.
Some parents have virtually turned their backs on some of the once revered giants and enrolling their children at the college where standards are always being set.
Their catchment area has continued growing and now attracting students from as far as 22 Miles, Penhalonga, Vumba, Zimunya, Mutare Urban, Dangamvura and Chikanga.
The college obtained an overall pass-rate of 89 percent during last year’s Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council Advanced Level examinations.
The pass-rate percentage breakdown was Business Studies (95 percent), Economics (72 percent), Accounting (52 percent), Mathematics (72 percent), Geography (59 percent), Biology (88 percent), Chemistry (75 percent), Physics (80 percent), History (99 percent), Divinity (86 percent), English Literature (87 percent) and Shona (87 percent).
Mr Mutsongodza has continued leading from the front after his Business Studies Class had the highest number of As, with a massive 55 students scoring first classes. This was an improvement from 2014 results where 40 students had As in their examinations.
Among those with 15 points and above are Knowledge Chiyangwa (18), Godknows Chinofamba (17), Tinashe Munguma (15), Dean Nare (15), Brian Gatulah (15), Admire Masunda (15) and Lynnet Nyamudeza (15).
Nyamudeza scored a first by being the first student at the college to score an A in English Literature. For her efforts she pocketed $100.
As a per their tradition of rewarding excellence through giving starter-packs for students who would have achieved 15 points and above, the college on Monday hosted an award ceremony that was attended by the Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, his two deputies, Mutare DEO, Zimsec provincial head and other dignitaries.
It was all smiles as the excelling students received their starter-pack to use at any university of their choice. The starter is $420 being a refund of the fees the student would have paid during his or her final year at the college.
For O-Levels, those who score five As and above also receive a refund of the whole year’s fees. This has acted as a motivator to other students to aim high and surpass standards set by their predecessors.
Besides the school fees refund incentives, First Class Academy is one of the few private colleges in Manicaland that has embraced Government’s initiative to promote Science subjects through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by constructing a double-story Science laboratory in the Chinyausunzi area of the sprawling Sakubva high-density suburb.
The new building has also given the high-density suburb a new facelift and defying the notion that nothing good comes from the ghetto in the process.
Just like what Government think-tanks realised in Science subjects being key drivers for economic growth, First Class Academy responsible authorities share the same vision, hence the massive investment in a state-of-the-art Science laboratories.
In his keynote address, Mr Shumba summed it up and said: “I am pleased to note that seven students from this college had 15 points and above. We should all emulate the good deeds of achievers. In Zimbabwe, jealous is proving to be more lethal than HIV. We should accept defeat when beaten. If you continue looking for blemishes, you will never go anywhere. You should learn how others are doing it and work on perfecting whatever you will be doing than having a negative thinking all the time.”
Mr Shumba hailed the conducive learning environment at the college and said both parents and teachers had a role to play in moulding a complete student.
“As parents you have a responsibility of ensuring that a child is sent to school, while teachers have a responsibility of guiding the students. Teachers should show the students the way. You should lead them and they will follow.
“The reality is that learning was never meant to be simple and all students should study hard,” he said.
Mr Shumba gave the college’s disciplinary record thumbs up.
“Discipline should be embedded among students so that they realise the importance of getting an education and passing examinations. He who helps you to make it in life will be showing you the way,” he said.
The college’s vice-principal, Mrs Mutsongodza, said their aim was to continue improving the learning environment at the college.
“Our mandate is to change children’s simple lives and make them great people in life. No-one will ever take away your education. Education will make you move from a state of being looked down upon to be someone respected in society. It is a strong weapon to change one’s fortunes.
“The future is for the educated and we always wish every child success in life,” she said.
Mrs Mutsongodza challenged all college leavers to continue striving for excellence.
“I want to challenge students leaving this college that if you can’t fly, you should run, if you can’t run, you should walk and if you can’t walk, then crawl. You have to keep moving forward. You should continue pushing hard to achieve greatness,” she said.
The college head, Mr Stephen Chiwara, said: “We have a vision to continue churning out products with skills to actively help in developing this country.”
An overwhelmed Lynnet Nyamudeza, was at a loss of words as she gave a vote of thanks: “You should all know why you come to school. Hard work pays and you should never look back.”
Online Reporter