ONE HUNDRED NOT OUT FOR ST AIDAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

Maria Chiguvari

FOUNDED by the Anglican Church in 1924, St Aidan’s Primary School will today celebrate a century of excellence and resilience.

The school celebrates 100 years of existence with a rich history that has seen it hosting some of the country’s luminaries.

The school was an initiative of Samson Tickey and he was assisted by the village head Manyere and Reverend Jeremiah Nyahunzvi from Marondera.

Included in the negotiation process to start a school were locals — Mr Simon Ropi and Mr Mushayazvose.

The school boasts of an incredible cricket team whose products have risen to play for the national team.

Headmaster Augustine Mupfumira, said the milestone would not have been possible without dedicated teachers and staff.

“A sample of the foregoing pass rates attest to our tenacity in handling matters relating to curriculum interpretation and teaching.

“We are already implementing the newly-introduced Heritage Based Curriculum 2024 to 2030, our culture of continuous learning and staff development providing the necessary skills.

“Sports, Arts and Culture have also received due attention over the years.

“The school’s history and legacy over the past 100 years needs to be honoured. Former students, current pupils, staff and the community have all the reasons to celebrate. The dedication and commitment of our forbearers in providing quality all-inclusive education has also been ingrained in our DNA, the current occupiers of the St Aidan’s space.

“In our quest to inculcate such values as hunhu/ubuntu, innovation, enquiry and problem-solving in our young minds. We have embraced technology and will continue to do so.

“Our community has also played its part by providing both the human component (pupils) and financial support, for this we are forever grateful.

“Other stakeholders have also come to the party symbolising the unique symbiotic relationship which has enhanced the school’s reputation and profile.

“As we celebrate this milestone, let us also express our gratitude to the dedicated teachers and staff who have tirelessly nurtured and guided our students over the years.

“They are the heart and soul of our school and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their unwavering dedication and passion.

 

THE HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF ST AIDAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

The only Anglican Church and school catering for the people in that part of Seke Communal Lands was St Mary’s Mission, which was on a mission farm (donated to the Anglican Mission District by a local chief) in the then Seke Tribal Trust Land.

St Aidan’s was made an out-station of St Mary’s Mission.

This mandate was given with the approval of Bishop Burrogh while the following priests served at the Mission: Rev Kureni, Rev Pasipanodya, Rev Cooper (Catechism Teacher), Rev Tekere, Rev Makoni, Rev Oliver Mutume and Rev Apture.

One of the major reasons for establishing the school and the church was to reduce the distance travelled by people from as far as Dema (about 15 km away), through dense forests with marauding wild animals.

The school was run along Anglican ethos and principles and thus the majority of staff, Heads, teachers and general staff who worked at the school belonged to the Anglican Church.

This also meant that the Rector of the Mission then was also the school Chaplain.

The actual number of pupils who were enrolled over the years could not be ascertained.

The first church building at the site was built out of mud with a thatched roof.

This was demolished in the mid-forties and a new building was constructed inside the school yard. The community moulded bricks while St Mary’s Mission provided window frames and roofing materials except for the roofing gum poles which were obtained from Musakwa Village.

The builders were Mr Sansley Chitehwe who, although a Roman Catholic member, assisted and supported St Aidan’s projects and the other one was Mr Gonzalo Maponga.

In the mid-70s, the White Rhodesian Government gave more autonomy to local authorities in Tribal Trust Lands to assume responsibilities like road maintenance, projects to generate income, collection and retention of revenues at schools and amenities like beer halls in areas falling under their jurisdiction.

The white-controlled government also “arm-twisted” Missionaries to cede their schools to local authorities since funding for black education was going to be cut.

A statutory instrument was promulgated giving authority to local authorities to run schools within their jurisdiction.

Most schools owned by churches were handed over.

St Aidans Primary School was, therefore, handed over to the Seke Rural District Council in the mid-70s.
At independence in 1980, Chitungwiza Town Council was born and the school fell into the council’s jurisdiction.

This period also marked the physical separation of the church from the school in 1988.

The church, St Aidan’s Anglican, moved to its current site in Unit M, Seke.

Despite that separation, the school has continued to expand and produce well-rounded pupils in academic and sporting fields.

The following headmasters in chronological order have indeed left an indelible mark at the school from 1924 to date: Mr Mukosa, Mr Chapata, Mr Borerwe, Mr Madzikanda, Mr Rutumhu, Mr Nyahumbi, Mr Hewitt Pswarai (1972 to2002) he also provided invaluable institutional memory with regards to the school’s history, Mr Vingirai Matamba (2003 to 2004), Mr Wilbert Mukize (2005-2015), Mrs Claris Zheke (2016), Mr Augustine Mupfumira (2017 to date (2024)

 

Post Independent St Aidan’s Primary School: Major Achievements.

Secretary’s Bell – Merit Award 1992

1st Position National, 1st Position Harare Province and 1st Position Chitungwiza District-Universal Postal Union International Letter Writing-Kayleen Chivenga (Grade 7 2023) Represented Zimbabwe at the International Competition in Paris, France
1st Position Cricket Colts Best 12 Primary Schools in Zimbabwe – 2023
Pass Rates in Public Examinations

YEAR PASS RATE
2023 93.5%
2022 84%
2021 90.5%
2020 90%
2019 100%
2018 100%
2017 93,75%
2016 95.44%
2015 99.27%
2014 93.14%
2013 92.30%

The Phenomenal Cricket

Roll of Honour

As a school, we have carved a niche in the once elite sport of cricket. St Aidans Primary has indeed proved to be a cradle for junior cricket and its development in general. Sincere gratitude to Zimbabwe Cricket and partners such as Rockingham Colliery Cricket Club (UK) and special commendation goes to Mr, Skip Richard and his team of tireless bat and pad raisers. The conception of the Chitungwiza Junior Premier League four years ago has eight primary schools from Chitungwiza playing against each other from February up to the end of November, with a semi-final and final being played at St Aidan’s

Primary. Loads of cricket equipment are won, thanks to Richard Skip. Under our vision of creating many world-class players, an EPL Club called Gladiators has been given a home at St Aidan’s Primary school. I am pleased to say that the club has provided a springboard for our rising players. The team itself won the EPL trophy two seasons ago.

Today we celebrate learner success in all the areas of our broad-based curriculum, academic excellence, sports, arts, culture, values like smartness, leadership and teamwork.

At 100 years, this is indeed momentous.

Congratulations to all of us, we each played a part in the overall success of this day.