Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IN a stunning display of academic excellence, 716 A‑Level candidates who sat for the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), November 2025 examinations scored 15 points or better – a feat that has left educators and parents alike buzzing with pride.
Among them, are four Science students from the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland-run St Augustine’s High School, who achieved a coveted 35‑points maximum, while Mutare’s rapidly rising First Class Academy produced the highest number of top scorers, with 51 learners crossing the 15‑point threshold.
The results, announced, announced last Friday, come as the national pass-rate rose to 95,75 percent, a modest rise from 94,58 percent in 2024.
These rising numbers from Manicaland tell a story of relentless hard work by Government, school authorities, teachers, School Development Committees (SDCs), Responsible Authorities (RAs) and parents and students to invest in quality education.
First Class Academy, a private institution that has become a beacon of academic excellence in Mutare, saw its high‑point cohort swell from 34 in 2024 to 51 in 2025 – with every point earned testifying to the students’ grit and the teachers’ dedication.
Not far behind was St Augustine’s High School, which secured the second place with 50 candidates achieving 15 points or more.
The school’s Science Department, renowned for its rigorous laboratory experiments and work ethic, produced four students who reached the pinnacle of 35 points.
All the sleepless nights, rigorous experiments, and the endless equations have paid off.
Fellow Anglican school, St David’s Bonda Girls’ High, also in Mutasa, had 47 learners who attained 15 points or better, while Roman Catholic‑run Kriste Mambo in Makoni District had a total of 40 candidates who attained 15 points or better.
The United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ)‑run Mt Selinda High School of Chipinge District – one of the oldest mission schools in the country – reclaimed its place among the academic bastions after producing 32 candidates with 15 points or better, placing it fifth in the province.
Gaza High School, an urban high‑density day school in Chipinge, produced 31 candidates who attained 15 points or better, and sits at sixth position in the province, while Sakubva 1 High School had a total of 29 learners who obtained 15 points or better.
The greatest shock came from St Faith’s High School in Makoni, which over the years has dominated A‑Level outcomes.
The school endured tumultuous episode of chaos and infighting over the over-enrolment of this stream of candidates, which saw the least qualified students enrolling for sciences.
As a result, the school produced a paltry 27 candidates who attained 15 points or better, relegating it to eighth position in the province.
This marked a heavy drop in performance, given that in 2024, the same school had 65 candidates who achieved 15 points and above, only to see just 27 reach that level last year.
The tussle between the Responsible Authority, School Development Committee (SDC) and school administration, created a climate of mistrust, diverting attention from academic priorities and stalling essential resource allocation. Such discord bred administrative paralysis, undermined teacher morale, and students were caught in the crossfire.
As the old proverb warns – when elephants fight, the grass suffers – here the grass were the students whose future were jeopardised – putting to the fore the need for unity of purpose and seamless cohesion between all stakeholders to restore stability, rebuild confidence, and ensure that academic excellence once again flourishes at St Faith’s High.
St Faith’s major undoing was in the sciences, especially Physics, where the majority of the students, having been imposed in the department without proper selection, performed dismally.
Both Makumbe Mission in Buhera District and another Roman Catholic‑run St Dominic’s High School in Mutare had 22 candidates who attained 15 points or better, completing the best 10 schools with 15 points or better in Manicaland.
High‑density suburb day school Sakubva 1 High School also experienced a marginal decline, with a total of 41 students obtaining 15 points or better in 2024 compared to 29 in 2025.
Another high‑density suburb day school, Gaza High School in Chipinge, remained consistent, having settled for fourth position with 30 students obtaining 15 points and above last year, compared with its sixth position and a total of 31 candidates in 2024.
Urban day school and Roman Catholic‑run St Dominic’s High School had 25 candidates who attained 15 points or better in 2024, but last year the number decreased to 22, while Vengere High in Rusape had 15 students with 15 points and above, two of whom achieved 20 points.
The provincial triumph has sparked celebrations across Manicaland, with community leaders hailing
Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Richard Gabaza applauded the performance of schools in the province, singling out schools in marginalised areas for honours.
“Wonderful performance. Even marginalised rural located schools did exceptionally well. The number of schools and candidates with at least 15 points is greater than the previous year,” he said.
First Class Academy Director-General, Mr Stephen Mutsongodza, a man whose vision and leadership have transformed the academy from a modest township school into a powerhouse of academic excellence, attributed the achievement to a combination of hard work, innovation, and community support.
“Our secret is simple. We believe every child has the potential to excel if given the right environment. We don’t just teach subjects; we nurture confidence, discipline, and resilience. That is the foundation of our success,” he said.
He explained that the school invests heavily in mentorship programmes, where senior learners guide juniors, creating a culture of peer support.
“Teachers are encouraged to go beyond the syllabus, instilling curiosity and critical thinking. We are not just preparing learners to pass exams, we are preparing leaders, innovators, and responsible citizens. That is why our students consistently shine.
“Excellence is not accidental. It is the result of consistent effort, discipline, and a belief that you can achieve greatness regardless of where you come from,” noted Mr Mutsongodza.
Anglican Diocese of Manicaland education secretary, Reverend Edmund Samutereko said St Augustine’s High and St David’s Bonda Girls High were their best performers.
“Last year, St Augustine’s High did exceptionally well, with 50 students achieving 15 points and above, followed by St David’s Bonda with 47. Unfortunately, things did not work out as expected for St Faith’s High, which has 27 students with 15 points or better. This is a lesson that the disputes that have been occurring at St Faith’s High are not healthy for the school,” said Rev Samutereko, adding that St Anne’s Goto High had five candidates with 15 points.
Ends
