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Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
THE Roman Catholic church-run Gokomere Central Primary in Masvingo came out tops in the 2016 Grade Seven examinations whose results were released last week with a record 46 pupils scoring four units and the school attaining a 100 percent pass rate.
Masvingo provincial education director Mr Zadius Chitiga expressed satisfaction over the general performance of schools in the province attributing it to the dedication to duty by the teachers.
He said he was happy with the kind of performance which had seen schools always fighting to surpass their previous records.
“We distributed Grade Seven results to the schools on a weekend. Schools are continuously surpassing their previous records and we are happy.
“We have one school with 46 pupils who scored four units others have 35, 30, 18 and 14 pupils. This is due to staff dedication and pupils’ commitment,” said Mr Chitiga.
He said although they have not yet completed assessing the results, most schools surpassed their previous year’s performance.
“While we have not done our overall assessment yet, the results are pleasing. We will give the school pass rate statistics soon.
We are, however, happy with the results,” he said.
Sources said the traditional powerhouses Gokomere Central Primary and Victoria Junior were leading followed by Shakashe and Hellen McGhie Primary School.
“Gokomere Central Primary which had 40 pupils with four units in 2015 produced a record 46 this year, 24 pupils scored five and six units respectively. We have 12 pupils with seven units each. We had 140 candidates and they all passed their examination,” said outgoing headmaster Mr Benard Baye.
Another official said Victoria Junior which had 24 pupils with four units each in 2015 this year produced 30 pupils with the same units.
An official from Shakashe said the school produced 18 pupils with four units each and has managed a 95 percent pass rate while Hellen McGhie produced 14 pupils who scored four units each and had a 99 percent pass rate.
Meanwhile, Runyararo and Francis Aphiri Primary have a combined 35 candidates with four units each.
Zimsec director Mr Esau Nhandara said this year the pass rate for female candidates in the November examinations was almost five percent higher than that of their male counterparts.
The overall national pass rate is 42,9 percent.
@walterbmswazie2
Bongani Ndlovu