adminMorris Mtisi
PARENTS in the regional and overseas Diaspora desperately strive to secure a place for their children at Knowstics Academy in Mutasa District-Manicaland Zimbabwe. The reasons for this influx are visibly and genuinely clear: The privately owned academy’s pass rate is phenomenal in both quantity and quality, its emphasis on Life Skills development and preparation for the girl child’s future outstanding. The safety and security of the girl learners in every aspect is second to none in the country.
Little wonder the girls-only school has attracted and continues to attract global interest and attention.
What makes Knowstics so special?
This is one question parents want answered before they join the pushing and shoving for places at this little ‘university’ located in the middle of nowhere.
First it is the location: 79 kilometres from Rusape and 1.5 kilometres from Bonda Mission Centre stands in situ this oasis of education surrounded by natural wonders.
The hand of God is visible in the rocky mountains standing coldly erect in the North West, staring down the school below. In the South easterly direction another rocky hill stands desolately as if the two give the school sacred comfort in the valley between them. The school enjoys total beauty supplied by Mother Nature and those with eyes to appreciate the beauty of God’s presence in the work of His hands see it without putting effort.
Knowstics Academy is a Girls High School for Forms One to Six. It offers boarding facilities only. The school was established in January 2009 and is registered with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, formerly known as Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture. The school offers examinations for both and University of Cambridge and ZIMSEC.
In an exclusive interview with The Manica Post recently, the headmaster, Mr DavidMaunga, revealed that school fees for new students was pegged at $3800 per term which includes uniforms, levies and administration costs. For the rest of the terms school fees is $2500.
“We supply four dresses for Form One and Two, four skirts for Form Three to Six, four shirts, one school tracksuit, two school T-shirts, one blazer, one cardigan jersey, one school hat and one tie,” added Mr Maunga.
About the school enrolment, the headmaster said it has been increasing since the inception of the school.
“In 2009 at inception, we had 180 girls. More enrolled each year and today our total enrolment sits at 420 girls. All of them enjoy an academic programme meant to expose the girls to a variety of academic and practical subjects,” said Mr Maunga.
Form One and Two students have 11 subjects on offer: Mathematics, Science, English, Shona, History, Geography, Accounts, ICDL, Agriculture, Music, Fashion and Fabrics. Form Three and Four students have 13 on offer: Mathematics, English, Literature in English, Shona, History, Bible Knowledge, Geography, Accounts, Business Studies,Chemistry, Physics, Biology and ICDL.
In Form Five and Six there are Mathematics, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, History, Divinity, Literature in English, ICDL.
The range of subjects on offer clearly demonstrates the school’s awareness of the need to balance the scope of learning.
The STEM concept is clearly taken care of and the new Minister Dokora’s vision of a transformed curriculum which compulsorily includes voc-tech sciences like Agriculture and Fashion and Fabrics is visibly complied with. Equilibrium is wisely struck in the inclusion of Humanities subjects, the Arts and Commercials. What a balanced vision of choices!
The academic record at Knowstics explains further why the academy continues to attract global attention: In the ‘O’ level examination results of 2009 the pass rate was 87 percent, 2010-87 percent, 2011-92.6 percent, 2012-100 percent, 2014-Cambridge-100 percent / ZIMSEC-93 percent, 2015-Cambridge-95.5percent /ZIMSEC-92.5percent.
In the ‘A’ level 2010 results the pass rate was 100 percent, 2011-100percent, 2012-97percent, 2013-100percent, 2014-Cambridge 100percent / ZIMSEC-98percent. What does sanity say? Excellent results!
Many students from Knowstics Academy have been accepted by a number of universities in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora-South Africa, Namibia, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russia, USA and Canada.
Recently, Kaseke Chenai Karen was nominated by Cambridge International Examination for the 2013 best in the world award-‘A’ level History. And so was Chinhara Rudorwashe-best in the world- ‘A’ level Divinity.
Four other best in Zimbabwe awards followed: Chidiya Vimbai- ‘O’ level Accounts, Chimbwanda Jillian- ‘O’ level Business Studies, again Chidiya Vimbai- ‘O’ level Chemistry and also again Chimbwanda Jillian-‘O’ level best in Zimbabwe-Geography.
How many schools have such a screaming record in the country? Let alone in the world!
Knowstics competes with the best in the world. This is not propaganda of ‘game fixing’ as we see in other private academies and colleges in the country; sheer window dressingand intellectual make-up, dubious results, ghost As and distinctions. Knowstics passes its students genuinely, and the world acknowledges.
Every student at Knowstics is equally guided by a code of conduct she is expected to follow and abide by. School rules and regulations are tailor-made to protect the student, other students and the parents’ interests.
A three-stage cautioning and warning system operates in the school where initial counseling for students with discipline challenges is administered. “The parent and the school must have shared responsibility in producing a well-behaved product safe to herself and those around her and ultimately a soundly educated citizen for Zimbabwe. What about that for contribution towards national development?
The school prohibits bringing in food stuff of any kind, casual clothing, pocket money, cell phones, medical drugs, laptops, cameras etc in the school. Electrical gadgets such as pressing irons, water heaters etc are also not allowed.
Visits by parents/guardians
Parents and or guardians are allowed to visit their children once per term, mid-term only. A newsletter is circulated to inform parents and guardians of these visiting dates and days.
The school does not have exeat holidays on their calendar. Students are expected to be in the school for the duration of the term.
Students’ health
The school takes care of the girls’ primary health care. Any other health issues and conditions are referred to the local hospital at Bonda Mission. Parents meet the costs.
Diet
The school offers a balanced diet to their students. The menu consists of six meals per day: breakfast, mid-morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, supper and a night cap.
A church service is held every Sunday morning to take care of the religious lives of the girls.
Sports
Though the sporting fields are not yet in place, temporary courts are used for the school’s sporting activities done on Wednesdays.
If this summary profile does not speak of a perfect environment for all round learning driven by an acute appetite for internationally acclaimed excellence, nothing will. Knowstics academy has done it.
It continues to do it. Attracting world attention by producing the best academic performers under the sun! Yes, under the sun. That is precisely how good the school is. Best-in-the-world awards speak of the best under the sun.
The Manica Post can only say well done Knowstics! Makorokoto, Amhlope! You do Zimbabwe proud. Shake the world more and tell it what Knowstics means- a Greek word meaning KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS. The girls here seek knowledge, and knowledge they find the best in abundance. They are knowstics indeed.
The story of this global attraction and its chronicle of outstanding achievements cannot fit in one page of any newspaper. This reporter is personally excited by the school director and headmaster’s buying in on my idea of producing a school magazine that will mirror itsgood story in detail.
I promise, as I hereby do, to do my best to assist on the magazine production. School magazine consultancy has personally become part of my consultancy in the schools countrywide.
Also thanks to The Manica Post for its support and idea to publish school profiles without fear or favour.
Online Reporter