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Herald Reporter
Nyarutombo Primary School in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central has now been designated as a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council centre following the construction of a classroom block, toilets and a borehole by Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe.
Construction of the block with two classrooms has transformed Nyarutombo from a satellite school with Grade Seven exams sat elsewhere at a proper school with adequate facilities.
The school was previously shunned by parents from nearby villages who opted to have their children walk long distances to attend examination-registered schools.
Nyarutombo Primary School, some 230 km north of Harare, belongs to the Methodist Church of Zimbabwe and is run under the Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA).
The school now has a solarised borehole and a 10 000-litre tank giving pupils access to clean water all year round.
MeDRA acting National Director Tariro Washaya said the facelift by Stanbic Bank had raised the profile of the school and had driven growth in the institution’s pass rate over the last two years.
The classroom block and toilets were constructed in 2019 and began functioning in December 2020. Stanbic Bank also managed to furnish the classrooms with desks and chairs.
Washaya said: “The story of Nyarutombo Primary School is a typical rags-to riches story in many ways and the transformation of this school is all thanks to Stanbic Bank.
“The school had a low enrolment because there were no classrooms. It was a satellite school whose pass rate was very low. I am proud to say that the pass rate has since improved significantly and the school is now an exam centre,” said Washaya.
She said the biggest beneficiaries of the facelift were Grade Seven pupils who previously had to travel long distances during examinations.
Stanbic Bank acting head brand and marketing, Tariro Memo said the leading financial services institution was pleased to have played its part in uplifting the lives and fortunes of the pupils, the community and its environs.
“Stanbic Bank has well thought out corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives whose key attribute is premised on changing the lives of its beneficiaries in a sustainable way.
“Education is one of the pillars under this initiative and the plight of the students moved Stanbic Bank to construct the classroom block, toilets, provide furniture, borehole and water tank,” said Memo.
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