Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
EIGHT leading primary and secondary schools in Matabeleland South have received the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s Secretary Merit Awards for championing inclusive education with the Government commending them for equipping pupils with life skills.
Dingumuzi Primary School, Filabusi Government Primary School, Colleen Bawn Primary, Oakleigh House Trust School won the award for junior schools while Minda High School, Tongwe Government High School, Mzingwane High School and Thekwane High School won under the secondary schools category.
The Secretary’s Merit Award is one of the ministry’s key supervision tools intended to enhance quality education.
It is awarded to an excelling primary and secondary school per province annually.
However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has not held the merit awards since 2021.
This is the first time that the ministry has held a blended awards ceremony which was hosted by Minda High School and the permanent secretary Mr Moses Mhike presided over the event.
Mr Mhike said the eight schools which won the Secretary’s Merit Award have set a benchmark in the province through their outstanding performance, aligning with national priorities in education.
“Each year, the award is presented to 10 primary schools and 10 secondary schools that demonstrate excellence in academics, viable commercial units, culture and sports, alongside other essential tenets of a child-friendly school,” he said.
“These institutions demonstrated exceptional commitment and excellence in various domains, including commercial units, foundational learning, technical vocational education and academic results.”
Mr Mhike said in 2021, the Secretary’s Merit Award was won by schools that responded to Government’s call to establish commercial units to enhance food security and generate income with Dingumuzi Primary School and Minda High emerging as winners in the province.
He said in 2022, the ministry targeted primary schools that strengthened foundational learning, created safe and supportive environments, implemented the home-grown feeding programme and promoted strong parental involvement.
Secondary schools were expected to focus on promoting technical and vocational education while offering HEXCO courses.
“Filabusi Government Primary School and Tongwe Government High School excelled in this category. Tongwe Government High School successfully introduced HEXCO courses in garment construction, bakery and computer operations thereby equipping pupils with practical skills for future employment and entrepreneurship,” said Mr Mhike.
He said the school’s commercial cattle and piggery projects have expanded significantly, generating income for infrastructural development.
Mr Mhike said in 2023, the ministry shifted focus to schools that had embraced science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) oriented education in line with the country’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda at the primary and secondary level.
He said Colleen Bawn Primary and Mzingwane High Schools won in the category.
“In 2024, the selection focused on academic performance through good pass rates, infrastructural development and the uptake of non-formal education, embracing the home grown school feeding programme, STEAM education and commercial ventures,” said Mr Mhike.
Schools that excelled in these areas were Oakleigh House Trust School and Thekwane High School.
Mr Mhike said Thekwane High School has maintained an O-level pass rate above 90 percent and an A-level pass rate consistently above 96 percent, demonstrating its commitment to educational excellence.
Major infrastructural developments include the construction of modern A-Level hostels, a state-of-the-art science block and the installation of interactive boards and Starlink-powered WiFi.”
Mr Mhike said the schools’ efforts have significantly contributed to the development and transformation of the country’s education sector which is in sync with the Heritage-based curriculum which seeks to produce a rounded learner who can tackle 21st century challenges.
“Our ultimate goal is to produce knowledgeable, creative, innovative and resilient graduates that can become job creators and contribute to achieving Vision 2030 which is the hallmark for an upper middle-income economy,” he said.
Mr Mhike said the income-generating projects undertaken by the winning schools align with the Government’s call for schools to modernise and commercialise as articulated in the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
“By engaging pupils in these projects, we are fostering financial literacy, entrepreneurship and a sense of responsibility, empowering them to manage and sustain these entities effectively,” said Mr Mhike.
He said the adoption of the school-based projects promotes hands-on learning and encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.-@nqotshili
