adminFreedom Mutanda
Mount Selinda High School posted excellent results in the 2014 ‘A’ level ZIMSEC examinations as it reached the 97,65 percent mark; it shrugged off the politics of leadership that threaten to lower the heights it has scaled in recent years. There were three students who got 15 points and the general trend for those who did the sciences was a passing margin.
Interestingly, girl power came to the fore as two girls romped home to victory as it were with 15 points in Literature in English, History and Divinity; their teachers are females in a world filled with male chauvinists who think female teachers can’t deliver pleasant results.
When The Manica Post arrived at the school on Monday morning, the excited teachers listened to praise songs from well-known gospel artistes as they insisted that it was God who made it possible for the school to break records in the Arts Department; two friends, Penelope Mutanda and Gwyneth Mlambo, got distinctions in English, History and Divinity while Kecho Souzahboy aced in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Patience Chigariro had 15 points in the same subject combination in 1992. She went on to pursue a law degree at the University of Zimbabwe.
Mrs Mabumbo, who teaches Literature in English, was a picture of humility as she said what had happened was a result of teamwork in the department.
She stated that the task of teaching was not hers alone; she felt everyone in the department lent a hand in the results that came out.
“Really, these girls are golden. When I started teaching them, I thought the best they would get would be a ‘B’ but look what happened, an incredible eleven ‘A’s. Determination on their part and the efforts of my colleagues made us reach this milestone.
“I am overwhelmed for sure.’’
She could scarcely breathe in her excitement while other female teachers chorused their ‘amens’.
The administration summed it up by saying that teamwork that entailed pulling in one direction by staff, the student body and itself was the tonic needed to propel the school to dizzy heights.
“Our aim is to be the number one school in Zimbabwe and the high school of choice for those who intend to pursue their studies in the arts, sciences and commercials.
“As a matter of fact the larger number of passes came from the so-called difficult sciences and for that, we are eternally indebted to the teaching staff that remained focused despite the myriad problems that attacked the school,’’ Mr T. Chitombo said.
“Teachers, students, administration and ancillary staff had unity of purpose. They may have engaged into low gear in the wake of incentives’ withdrawal,’’ Mr Chitombo added.
One parent, Britain Mhlanga, said: “Now is the time to make the school take its place among the elite in the country.
“There could be differences in ideology but at the end of the day, we want our children to do very well.’’
Evidently, the results mask the tumult that characterised the third term’s chaos whereby the UCCZ-run institution nearly went rudderless when the synod insisted it no longer wanted Reverend Watson Bundwa to head the school.
As parents watch for the next move, it is important to repeat the refrain, the students’ interests are paramount.
Dialogue and swallowing of pride lead to a peaceful environment at the school.
It remains to be seen whether the awakening giant will continue on its upwards trajectory given the fact that there is a leadership wrangle whose outcome may ruin the future of thousands of students if it spirals out of control.
The community hopes that next year’s results will show that the time for Mount Selinda High School to shine, has come.
Online Reporter