Schools Feedback

Government and its partners have tried to help the schools, but resources are not enough.
There is however, an agreement among educationists that the education sector needs to rope in former students to contribute towards the development of their former school.
They also feel this is the only way through which we can revive the country’s educational institutions that are battling to provide the best for schoolchildren.
The Herald has been running articles on schools seeking the support of former students and that has attracted a number of responses from the public.
Below are some of the responses from former students.
l I read with keen interest your article in the Saturday Herald of 4 June 2011 entitled “Nyatsime College loses lustre”.
To start with, I am a former student of the school having done my Form One in 1987 up to Form 6 in 1992.
I was an active member of Nyatsime Gospel Team that used to sing during Saturday and Sunday church services at the boarding school.
I was quite instrumental in establishing a very dynamic theatre club dubbed Limbe Presenters that thrilled fellow students with theatrical presentations such that on many occassions we would provide entertainment to the whole school on some Saturdays.
Students would actually pay a fee and they didn’t have problems with that because the performance was worth it. Part of the proceeds would go to charity and one striking example was donation to Matthew Rusike Children’s Home in Epworth sometime in 1992.
I agree with you that the school has lost its lustre because during our time, things were a bit better and the library you were talking about had a brilliant appearance then. Although the challenge of sanitation was always there but with the help of our student leadership toilets and bathrooms were cleaned every day and on weekends we would have manual work where we would do a thorough cleaning of the whole school including the grounds.
I visited the school on closing day last term and what I saw did not please me approximately 20 years after I left that school.
The only thing that I saw had improved was the erection of the wall right round the school, but the general infrastructure has deteriorated. It is against this background that I quickly communicated with old students most of who are on Facebook both local and those in the diaspora. We agreed that as old students we need to do something to develop our former school and all of them are really prepared to put a hand towards that.
So I would like to promise the board chairperson, our beloved mother Dr Tommie Anne Samkange, the widow of the founder of the school the late professor Stanlake Samkange, we are rallying behind you, the PTA and school authorities in refurbishing Nyatsime College.
I got overwhelming response from the former students in the Diaspora and we will definitely do something.
We are busy organising the launch of Nyatsime Old Students Association on Sunday June 26, 2011 at Nyatsime College at 10am.
I appeal through your widely read paper to help us disseminate this important notice to all Nyatsime Old students so that we meet on that day and launch this alumni to fulfill the dream of Dr Tommie Anne Samkange.
It is at this time that we will put up structures of the alumni and craft the roadmap for the development of the school.
This includes the former students who are high ranking officials you mentioned in your article and even those who are the new generations.
Once again thank you for your lovely article, it has been a wake up call.-Ernest Ngoma
l I have been closely following your feature articles on former students associations.
You wrote about my former school Nyatsime College in your feature of Saturday 4, June 2011, where you talked about the school having lost its lustre.
I am appealing through your widely read paper to publish our call to all former students that we are meeting at Nyatsime College on Sunday 26 June 2011 to launch the alumni so that we move forward to develop our school.
Looking forward to your support
l I read with so much passion the article that you have published about Mt St Marys Mission Wedza. It is my former school right adjacent to my rural home.
You have set the tone for making this issue a concern for all former students, the challenge we face is how do we move forward to spread the word to all former students who are scattered across the globe.
My suggestion is use of the social media, ie Facebook, Twitter, Blogs etc if we are targeting the majority.
I have used Linkedin on the professional front which I am convinced will draw a lot interest from professionals who went through Mt St Mary’s Mission. If you get ideas from other former students please keep me in synch. Alex Ngwena. [email protected]
l I am writing in response to your article in the Herald of Saturday 18 June 2011 about St Mary’s.
I am not a former student of the school but I am a former student of Chikwerengwe High School in Matizha under Gutu District in Masvingo province.
This school got its A level a few years back. It is in the rural area and during our time the results were quite good but due to economic meltdown the school is struggling big time.
I am in the process of mobilising former students of my school. I would benefit from your articles in the press if I can have an interview with you and you write about it in the Herald. I will be in Zimbabwe from June 28 to 10 July 2011. – Tinashe Mahachi
l Surely there is need to form old students Association. It will go a long way in helping the students to raise funds. – Learnmore Tsapo
l Do you think your school is facing challenges? Do you want to reach out for help to your former students?
This is your platform. Get in touch with me at [email protected]
or 795771 Ext 1351 between 9am and 5pm during weekdays.