Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A REVOLUTION is quietly evolving at St Columbus High School in Honde Valley as the academic institution is continuing to register remarkable achievements both academically and in extra curricula activities, winning several awards and accolades in the process.
The Roman Catholic Church-run school, due to its vastly improving pass-rates and impressive performances in sporting, music and cultural activities, has seen it attracting learners from outside Manicaland Province, as parents are keen to have their children enrolled at the institution.
The success of St Columbus High School has not gone unnoticed as outsiders are appreciating the school’s improvement in areas such as the implementation of the heritage based curriculum, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), sport and music.
At the recently held Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare 2024 Merit Awards ceremony, St Columbus scooped a number of awards, a feat the school headmasters Mr Henry Nyazenga, attributed to the positive culture, hard work and support from the Responsible Authority.
“The academic performance of St Columbus High School is improving with each passing year. We are posting very impressive academic results which has placed us among the leading academic institutions across the country. Last year at Advanced Level, we achieved 98 percent pass-rate, and we attained 86 percent at Ordinary Level.
“We are not selective at enrolment. We embrace learners with different passes at Grade Seven level. We then blend fast and slow learners to get the best out of them. Our school is attracting learners from across the country as we have some from Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare, Rusape and other places.
“Our school has strict emphasis on discipline, and all our learners are well behaved. This has helped to create a conducive environment for proper learning to occur. Even in extra-curricular activities, the school is excelling very well. We are a force to reckon with when it comes to sporting activities. It is either we are winning gold or silver,” said Mr Nyazenga.
Father James Mundopa said as a Catholic school, every learner is trained on Christian values, which is anchored on fearing God and respecting others. This has helped to create well behaved learners and a stable school.
“Prayer is the cornerstone of our school, and we make sure that every learner who enrolls at St Columbus High School became a Catholic by default, in the sense that we teach and impart knowledge as well as knowing God whole heartedly.
“When learners come for prayers or mass, we try as much as possible to make sure that we are teaching them to know God wholly, to fear God because if we have a calibre of learners who fear God, then we are on the right track. When the country does not have people who fear God, then we are in trouble. The future leaders of this country ought to know who God is, and then be able to fear Him. So the parents are actually appreciating to send their children to St Columbus High School because they know that there are Catholic ethos. We are producing a wholesome learner who is fit academically and spiritually,” said Father Mundopa.
The School Development Committee chairman, Mr Lovemore Mubaira, said parents and guardians are proud to be associated with the school as it producing well rounded learners who can easily adapt to any environment after leaving the school.
“Our school has the state-of-the-art infrastructure including classrooms, dormitories and staff accommodation. It is a must visit school. If you want your child to experience good learning in the most appropriate environment, St Columbus High School is the place to be. We have managed to scoop quite a lot of prizes across academic and extra curricula spheres over the years. At the just-ended Roman Catholic Diocese of Mutare 2024 Schools Merit Awards, we won the best prize in the Information Communication.
Technology back up security where we have cameras around the school. The system monitors all the happenings at the school, making our learners, teachers and property safe.
“Our school is a centre of excellence when it comes to choral music, where last year we scooped the second prize nationally. In terms of sporting activities, we are a force to reckon with, and we have been awarded the second best prize for sports promotion. The school runs several thriving projects such as piggery and fisheries.
“The school boasts of qualified and experienced teachers who are ready to teach our children, being during the day, night or holidays. They are dedicated to their work. There is also a harmonious relationship between the school administration, teachers, parents, learners and the Responsible Authority,” said Mr Mubaira.
