dyton mupawaenda
GIRLS High School head’s mission is to take the school back to its glory days and maintain the high standards.
Speaking at the recently-held Speech and Prize Giving Day, Girls High School head, Mrs Mach, said she is confident the school will keep its status as a beacon for the girl child.
“It is my wish to improve and maintain the standards so that the school goes back to its glory days.
“If the Ministry, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders continue to support us, I have confidence that we can reach the stars.
“Indeed, Girls High School can attain its status as a beacon for the girl child,” she said.
Highlighting the institution’s proud 126-year history, she noted how Girls High School as consistently been a beacon of academic and personal growth for countless young women.
CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS
Mrs Mach acknowledged the brigade of over 50 qualified teachers, a platoon of trainee teachers, and about two dozen dedicated ancillary staff, whose combined efforts drive the institution’s success.
She celebrated the incredible achievements of the students, particularly the remarkable leap in the O-Level pass rate, which soared from a mere 33% in 2022 to over 60% in 2023.
In sports, the girls have not only competed but excelled against elite private schools in various disciplines, including softball, basketball and rugby.
Notably, the basketball team secured gold at the 2024 ISSA Basketball Games, a triumph that stands as a testament to their resilience and determination in the wake of an unforgettable road trip.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Mrs Mach articulated her vision for the school’s future, expressing a commitment to elevating Girls High School to the status of an elite state private institution.
She emphasised that this vision can only be realised through the collaboration of all stakeholders – teachers, parents, and the wider community. The District Schools Inspector commended Mrs Mach for her exemplary leadership and the remarkable progress achieved at Girls High School, even nominating the institution for a special recognition award.
Mesmerised by the high-quality presentations across all disciplines, he urged the young ladies to be ambassadors for both the school and the nation, embodying the values instilled in them.
GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS INVESTITURE CEREMONY: A DAY TO REMEMBER
Mrs Virimai, an executive member of the School Development Committee, encouraged young leaders to embrace their roles with humility and responsibility.
“To lead is to serve,” she declared, urging them to lead by example rather than force.
Chikomborero, the outgoing head girl, reflected on her tenure:
“It has been a prestigious period of balancing the burdens of leadership, academics and co-curricular activities,” she said.
A TRANSFORMATIONAL
LEADERSHIP
Mrs Mach praised the transformational leadership style that fosters growth.
She shared valuable insights using the acronym ‘P.R.E.F.E.C.T.’ – Professional, Reliable, Effective, Fair, Exemplary, Courageous, and Time-conscious – encouraging the new leaders to embody these qualities.
The guest speaker, Mrs Marandura, an HR practitioner, mathematician, and passionate advocate for the Girl Child, captivated the audience with her motherly wisdom.
She asserted that “order begins with leadership selection,” emphasising the importance of planning, organising, leading, and controlling.
VISION
– To be an outstanding girl’s institution that stimulates a learning environment and acknowledges the uniqueness of every girl.
MISSION
– To maintain the stamp of excellence while progressing continuously as an institution, providing opportunities to develop the girl child’s full potential as a unique individual.
VALUES
The school is anchored on the following values.
• Service
• Teamwork
• Ambition
• Respect
• Unity
• Ubuntu
MOTTO
The mission, vision, and values are encapsulated in our school motto which I have alluded to earlier which is “Per. Ardua. Ad. Astra”. Through hard work, we can reach the stars.
The just-mentioned core values help the school to meet its mandate, attain its vision, fulfill its mission statement, and underpin the motto.
STAFFING
The school has a teaching staff complement of 53 teachers, comprising 49 government-paid teachers, 4 SDC teachers, and student teachers. In addition, the school has supporting staff of 2 Bursars 2 Admin Assistants, and 23 ancillary staff who include boarding staff and general hands. Security at the school has been outsourced to a private security company called Locum Security.
ENROLMENT
Girls High School enrolment has risen steadily and now stands at 976 girls.
Form 1: 287, Form 2:188, Form 3:164, Form 4: 143, Lower 6:117 and Upper 6: 77
CURRICULUM
For Forms 1- 4 we offer English and Maths, BES, ACC, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, General Science, PE, ICT, FTD, TTD, Art and Agric.
A -Level subjects are Mathematics, Crop Science, Sports Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Physics, Food Science, ICT, English Language and Communication Skills, Literature in English, Accounting, Economics, Business Enterprise Skills, Art, Family and Religious studies, and History.
Naturally, we desire to further broaden this curriculum to widen the options that our girls have.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our girl child was heavily affected. The pandemic resulted in the long closure of schools and the banning of several activities in the country and the world over. The COVID-19 outbreak negatively affected the pass rate of many schools and Girls High School was no exception. Our O-Level pass rate improved from 33% to 61% and A-Level from 74% to 90%.
SPORTS AND CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES
Girls High School has a diversified curriculum that caters for different individual needs. The curriculum offered, which respects inclusivity, has made the school proud as we excel in sporting and cultural activities. Many of our teams in different sporting disciplines have played and reached the National Level. Some of the ladies made it to the national teams.
CHALLENGES
– High staff turnover in Science and Commercial subjects remains a major challenge as teachers resign and go for greener pastures. However, we appreciate the Ministry’s efforts to continually plug the gaps left by those leaving the service, some of them unceremoniously.
– The COVID-19 pandemic significantly dented the culture of reading and engendered an anti-school mentality which took a toll on pass rates.
– Given the expected standard of the Girl’s High School, our general levy remains comparatively lower thereby limiting the resource base from which developments can be made.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter