Montrose gets Secretary’s Bell Award

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
TEACHERS should embrace technology and get abreast with new developments or risk redundancy, a senior Government official said yesterday.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango was speaking at Montrose Girls’ High School in Bulawayo where she awarded the Secretary’s Bell award for 2016 to the institution.

She presented $10 000 worth of e-learning equipment to the school from FBC Bank.

The Secretary’s Bell is a prestigious award given annually to an all-round excelling school in the fields of academics, sport, and extra-curricular activities.

“This is a new era and we just do not have a choice but to adopt these new technologies and implement them in our teaching and learning environments.

“Youngsters find it easier to adopt to new technologies but this is not an excuse not to embrace ICTs. If teachers do not change, they will be redundant soon,” said Dr Utete-Masango.

“If old people embraced the cellphone and did not have to go to school to learn how to answer and make a phone call, we have no excuse.”

She said teachers should not complain about having closed circuit television cameras installed in schools as in some countries it’s a given and registration is done via the biometrics system.

Dr Utete-Masango said educators should strive to improve the lives of learners across the country and urged girls’ schools to take STEM subjects seriously to empower the girl child.

“I would like to commend this school on a very good job done in ensuring a bright future for these young ladies.

“Such schools for girls should groom young, confident women who are going to get into industry and perform just as well as boys, if not even better,” she said.

“Our efforts should contribute towards bringing a meaningful difference in the lives of Zimbabwean learners. We are here for the learners. We must make sure that no one is left behind. We must make sure that we are inclusive and not deny anyone a place because of any reason, especially with the new curriculum,” she said.

“The 2015-2022 planned curriculum constitutes the sum total of planned experiences that learners are put through in order to equip them with knowledge and skills, values, and attitudes that prepare them for the future.

“Schools should produce productive learners with hands-on experience who are fully capacitated to deal with any challenges in their environment,” said Dr Utete-Masango.

FBC Bank, a partner of the ministry sponsored the prize and donated $10 000 worth of e-learning equipment to the school.

The donation comprises 45 laptops, a projector and an interactive board.

FBC Head of Group Marketing and Public Relations Ms Priscilla Sadomba said the consignment will be delivered to the school by month end.

“We are proud to identify ourselves as partners with the Ministry of Education and we will continue to work with the ministry and other related educational departments to improve the standards of education in Zimbabwe,” she said.

“We say congratulations to Montrose High School on earning the 2016 Secretary’s Merit Award and encourage everyone who put in an effort to work even harder to realise greater achievements.”

Montrose Girls’ High headmistress Mrs Glanicy Nkomo said the school was proud to receive its first Secretary’s Bell award in 45 years.

“These are the results of hard work put in by our parents, teachers, non teaching staff and the pupils, who are the Montrosians and are the reason why we are gathered here,” she said.

@andile_tshuma