Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
MANICALAND Provincial Education Director, Mr Richard Gabaza, has hailed the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare for launching the merit awards system for its schools, saying this initiative will spur institutions under the church to push for more positive outcomes.
Speaking at the awards ceremony in Mutare on Wednesday where the church’s 59 primary and secondary schools won several awards, Mr Gabaza said rewarding excelling institutions will motivate headmasters and teachers to work extra hard, and in the end benefitting the learners.
“Historically in Zimbabwe, merit awards, popularly known as The Secretary’s Bell, have been run by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, where two best schools per province are selected each year. In Manicaland Province, this initiative has spurred our schools to achieve more in the quest to bag this accolade. And, indeed, our province has attained and maintained pole-position in education excellence in the country.
“The culture of authorities appreciating the achievement of set goals by subordinates has been embraced by organisations for ages, and proven to be a singular motivator of human resources. Commitment and loyalty are derived by organisations when human resources are aware that their efforts are noted and recognised. Hence, when institution authorities recognise and reward positive efforts regularly, they plant seeds of positive commitment at the shop-floor levels.
“I am therefore, most excited by Roman Catholic Church which has decided to domesticate the same initiative at their own level. The merit awards conferred today will boost your well-oiled and enviable education machinery,” said Mr Gabaza.
The awards were held under the theme: ‘Embracing technology to enhance education service delivery’, and Mutare Diocese Education Commission Director, Father Philip Kembo, said its high time schools fully utilise technology which is now the main tool in the modern world.
“Technology has no excuse, either we embrace or we are left behind. We are giving awards to those who have excelled in different fields in our Catholic institutions. We should continue to follow in the footsteps of those who started these institutions.
“These schools did not appear from the air, some people started them, sacrificing for us. As a church, we reward those who excel by making use of what has been laid for us. As President Mnangagwa always says, no one should be left behind, let us bring our learners where they are supposed to be. Children can never reach their dreams if teachers and parents are not cooperative. Every teacher is at the centre of each and every learner’s life,” said Father Kembo.
Businessman, Mr Wellington Makonese, said the church’s vision to host the merit awards among its schools is a step in the right direction as it will promote cooperation and collaboration that will improve education delivery.
“Our vision should be to create a digital being connected to a biological being. We are here to serve a purpose, to solve problems and save humanity. Leaders, be it at school level, do not serve yourself, but strive to serve others in order for them to nature them.
“Every child is born a genius, and it is our responsibility to nurture their talents. It will be naïve to think technology is going away, it is with us forever.
Innovators are coming up with improved technology and systems which we should embrace so that we are not left behind,” said Mr Makonese.
The awards were in areas such as operations and governance, School Development Committee and Responsible Authority harmony and effectiveness, heritage based income generating projects, Catholic identity and ethos, academic performance, sports and arts, infrastructure development, safeguarding, staff and learners welfare among others.
Roman Catholic Mutare Diocese Education Secretary, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri said the inaugural ceremony went well, and next year will be bigger and better.
He challenged schools to improve on the shortcomings noted by the adjudicators.
