Chronicle Editor
Sunday News Reporter
RIVERDALE Academy in Bulawayo is set to begin construction of a mega school incorporating primary and high school learners.
The school has secured 14 acres of land in Riverside with plans to build a world-class institution in the coming year. Speaking during the Principal’s Dinner at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre recently, Riverdale Academy principal Mr Philani Mathe said construction of the school had been a long time coming.
“Today is an honour for me. This has been a dream ever since Riverdale Academy came into being. I want to officially announce that we have managed to buy 14 acres of land for both our junior school and high school in Riverside. Seven acres are for the high school while the other seven are for the primary school. Next year, we are going to start building a mega school that has never been seen in Bulawayo.
We’re extraordinary, strong, stable and consistent,” said Mr Mathe.
The event was a grand celebration of the school’s achievements and milestones throughout the academic year. Emphasising the school’s commitment to excellence, Mr Mathe expressed confidence in breaking records in the upcoming examination results.
“There is nothing we had said we would achieve in the past three years that we haven’t achieved. We are going to break records for the results coming in 2024 as we continue to build the mega structure. We will be working tirelessly in this coming year as we are building for a great generation,” he said.
The vice principal, Mr Jeremiah Muzondo, said Riverdale Academy has achieved extraordinary success in both academic and extracurricular activities.
“The school’s Cambridge English results for Ordinary and Advanced Level were exceptional. We produced the best results in Zimbabwe, achieved by having a student who had an overall of 17 points. In the 2021 examinations, our pass rate for O and A-level was 100 percent. Last year we produced 84 percent for A-levels and 74 percent for O-levels.
“The institution has been active in integrating Information and Communication Technology into the educational framework, offering coding and programming classes for students. The implementation of a school portal by the Information Technology department on the website has modernised the process of accessing academic results as students now log in and access their results online,” he said.
Mr Muzondo said a science fair was held in Gweru where Riverdale Academy won the top position after the students developed an irrigation system. Riverdale Academy is also advancing in environmental sustainability as it plans to establish a greenhouse for biography students.
“In soccer, the Under-15s were the district champions of Bulawayo Central, our first team boys became second in the district and qualified to play at the provincial level. In basketball, we were third in the Under-16s Nash tournament while the under 20 girls were first. The same basketball team went to South Africa for competitions with various schools in Johannesburg. We won about six out of 16 games,” he said.
The guest of honour, Mrs Scholastica Madibha, a representative from POSB said the bank supported education through various means.
“We are a bank that is passionate about education and literacy. This is because we believe that education is the key to the nation’s success and its future. POSB supports schools with loans, asset financing, and school fees payment solutions. In addition, the bank has also gone further to assist children from less privileged backgrounds with school fees as we are passionate about education. We have the junior accounts for students, even those under the age of 18 and they can come without their parents’ consent.
This is done to expose children to financial literacy at a young age,” said Mrs Madibha.
She urged students to desist from drug and substance abuse. The evening included an Early Childhood Development (ECD) graduation, primary and secondary school awards, prefects’ inauguration, as well as exceptional performances of singing, dance, and drama.
The outgoing headboy Killion Mwale said; “We are grateful to the teachers and staff who have supported us and pushed us to grow. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I would like to express my gratitude to the Principal and the teachers for sacrificing their family time and waiting for us as we studied till late.
They have been great mentors to us and we thank you for that.”
Camielle Richardson, the outgoing headgirl thanked the parents for their support.
“To the teachers, you have not only taught us academic subjects but the values of integrity, respect, and humility as well,” she said.
With plans in motion to construct a mega school, Riverdale Academy is poised to continue its legacy of providing quality education for generations to come.
Online Reporter