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Monica Cheru-Mupambawashe Saturday Herald Lifestyle Editor
It is the beginning of a new year and a new school term, but already some parents and children are thinking of jumping ship and look for alternative schools. This is of course disruptive to the student, the parent and the schools involved. The costs of setting up a child in a new school are also quite prohibitive and there has to be a good reason for a transfer, even if the change is not happening part way into the new term.
Some of the factors that force this decision include changed financial circumstances, relocation of the family or the introduction of a more conveniently located institution.
But there seems to be a trend to see kids transferred in the search of a ‘better school’. A parent who recently transferred her son from one private high school in Harare to another one a few kilometres away says it is all about standards.
“These private schools charge a lot and I really feel that I must get value for my money. A school should go beyond the ordinary and prove that they are better than everyone else,” she said.
With new schools sprouting up all the time and promising heaven on earth, and the older ones trading on reputation, many parents are getting disillusioned after a short while and deciding to try other options, options that are conceivably better.
But what makes a good school? And which school would one deem the best in Zimbabwe? The Saturday Herald Lifestyle carried out a two week survey that encompassed interviews with school teachers, school development associations’ members, parents and students.
The outcome points to common denominators that come up in almost everyone’s standards rule. As this article is not about promoting any particular school and the markers are subjective, schools are not mentioned by name except where the information is statistical.
Academic Excellence
Although many people have woken up to the fact that many alternative careers to white collar jobs can bring equal if not more prosperity and fame, this still remains an important marker of a good school. But it is no longer seen as the sole standard to look at. In spite of Government primary schools like Selbourne Rutledge of Harare and Chancellor of Mutare consistently producing some of the best grade seven results over the past few years, many parents would rather put their kids in private schools if they can afford it. Track records, the CVs of the head and staff also count.
Sports
The sporting arena is increasingly becoming a factor in the selection of both primary and secondary schools. The head of a private school outside Harare explained why:
“When we were growing up sports were just an extra-curricular activity that kids were forced to endure. But now that we have professional athletes finding international glory the picture has totally changed. We have professional coaches being employed to make sure that talented children are identified and groomed right from the beginning. So you find that parents are very keen to know what the different teams have achieved in the past. Sport is now a core part of the curriculum.”
The general perception is the more sporting disciplines a school offers, and the more exposure the teams have, then the more desirable the school becomes.
Other Disciplines
Drama, dance, debate, public speaking and music used to be supernumerary to the school activity of academic pursuits, but as with the sports, the view has radically changed. Now teachers, parents and children actively push for ever greater development in these areas with international trips being considered a big plus factor. Schools that offer ballet dancing and orchestra training seem to come right at the top of the ladder.
A parent with a child at one of the most expensive schools in Harare says that although the grade seven pupil has not shown any great aptitude in all these activities he does not feel that the money spent has been wasted.
“I am glad that my son can play rugby, hockey and cricket. He is also a good swimmer and can play the violin and the clarinet. He is an all-rounder whose greatest strength appears to be in the academic area. But I am glad that he has had the opportunity to discover himself and when he goes to high school he will have a good idea of what he wants to be in life,” the father explained.
Reputation and Moral Standing
Many parents said that they really worry about a school’s reputation and would not want their kids to go to a school that does not emphasise sound moral grounding. Religious teachings are considered an important distinction between one school and the next if all other factors appear to be on par.
But with the schools administrators very conscious of the need to guard the reputation of the institution, it may very well be that many matters of indiscipline are being swept under the carpet or being dealt with in ways that may be considered arbitrary.
Many unconfirmed rumours of drug abuse and other undesirable behaviour following the students from the elite institutions. A tape of a sexual orgy by students from one such institution went viral on the net some time back.
A parent with a child at some private school in the country says the co-ed institution runs a tight ship where the two sexes just do not mix except in strictly controlled environment like the classroom. The school is building a reputation for a Victorian style straight-laced approach to avoiding teen pregnancies and other downfalls that beset today’s largely unsupervised young people.
A student who was expelled from a private school in the country in 2012 said that she felt she had been victimized and turned into a scapegoat. Details of the incident that led to the expulsion were revealed to this paper but effort to get a comment from the school authorities for verification were unsuccessful.
“There were several of us involved and we were made to write reports. My parents were summoned and told that I had to transfer immediately. I only found out later that I was the only one expelled and the school has refused to explain why the others remained. I feel that there should have been a proper discussion with everyone involved speaking out, but all they wanted was to avoid a scandal.”
The girl has since found place in another private school and says that she is happier there as she feels that the institution is less judgemental.
Other Factors
As if all the above are not enough, there are still other considerations to take on board before a school is adjudged to be good enough. Being able to point at successful former students sure does look good on the school’s CV.
Some parents also value international connections which will ensure their kids easy movement to foreign colleges and scholarship programmes.
Staff members who know their place and make the parent feel that their child is the most important member of the class also help the school gain ground.
Turning the tables
Some schools have all the above and can charge as much fees as they deem proper. Instead of battling for numbers, they have strict policies to keep undesirables out. Such schools interview the prospective student and the parents and if any is found unworthy, then back home they return, to look for a place at less discerning establishments.
Such schools shoot right to the top of the class for snobbish parents because just mentioning that your child is there becomes a great fashion accessory.
So which is the best school in Zimbabwe? I guess that remains highly subjective and really depends on who is asking and their values in life.
Online Reporter