Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister, Torerayi Moyo, is set to commission the newly refurbished Oakleigh House School in Beitbridge on Friday, in a move expected to strengthen partnerships between the Government and the private sector in improving education service delivery.
The school, which now offers both primary and secondary education within a single complex, has steadily grown since its establishment in 2007 as an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre. It later expanded into a primary school and, in 2023, launched its high school wing complete with boarding facilities. These have already earned recognition through regional and international academic and sporting awards.
With Beitbridge’s population estimated at over 100 000, education authorities highlight the need for at least one primary school per 5,000 residents — underscoring the importance of both public and private sector investment in meeting rising demand.
Oakleigh House head, Mrs Beauty Takaza, said the school’s growth reflects its commitment to complementing Government efforts in delivering quality and affordable education.
“As the private sector, we value the need to offer quality education and have been upgrading our facilities in line with global trends. It is critical that we work together with one vision of investing in the future of our children,” she said.
Mrs Takaza added that the minister’s visit was inspired by the school’s strong academic record.
“Our examination classes have consistently achieved a 100 percent pass rate, and in 2024, we received the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Secretary’s Merit Award for exceptional academic results,” she said.
The school has embraced the child-friendly schools concept, establishing play centres for infants, modern sports facilities for tennis and swimming, a fully equipped computer laboratory, and a science lab aligned with the Government’s push for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
“We are happy with the support from the Beitbridge community. At the primary level, we have 435 pupils and 68 learners in ECD. We have a fully furnished computer room, a science laboratory embracing the STEM concept, and through the school development committee, we are building more sporting facilities,” she said.
Oakleigh House managing director, Dr Sikhathele Musakwa, said the institution is forging partnerships with internationally recognised schools to further strengthen its programmes, while the School Development Committee (SDC) continues to mobilise resources for additional infrastructure.
The school’s SDC representative, Mr Nqobile Ncube, praised the dedication of the teaching staff and the strong collaboration between the institution, parents, and other stakeholders. The commissioning of Oakleigh House comes as the Government intensifies implementation of the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which focuses on teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialisation. The policy aims to produce graduates equipped with practical skills to drive national development.
Additionally, under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), education is prioritised as a key pillar of Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy. As part of this vision, the Government has approved the construction of 3,000 new schools by 2025. The project will be rolled out in phases, beginning with 100 and 144 model 21st-century Government primary and secondary boarding schools across the country.
One primary and one secondary boarding school with state-of-the-art facilities will be built in each of Zimbabwe’s 72 districts. Treasury will fund the first 144 schools, while public-private partnerships and joint ventures will support the construction of the remaining 3 000. The Government continues to call on the private sector to play a greater role in complementing public investment in education.
derick.khumalo