adminDAY schools have long been considered trailing behind boarding schools when it comes to impressive academic results but it appears St Dominic’s High in Mutare is defying the odds.
With its low fees, St Dominics is realising high learner outcomes.
For instances junior school fees is $90 and Senior school is $120 that comes with very friendly payment terms. Undoubtedly, their thrust is to make education affordable to children of the poor in Mutare. It is now beyond reproach that they are one of best day schools in Zimbabwe and compete with boarding schools in the country.
The secret behind these outstanding results coming from a day school is the innovative teacher who identifies learning gaps in students and models the teaching strategy to deliberately close the performance gaps.
It’s not only students who should receive adequate instruction, but also the teachers should be the object of a formation that can lead them to the fullness of their vocation. The reality is that St Dominic’s students have different performance levels.
Commendably, the school has gone very far in developing a reading culture in the school let alone the calm and serene environment at the school is awesome. It’s a marvel. It’s amazing that some of students stay after end of day at 330pm to as late as 8 pm engaged in serious reading. The school encourages students to engage in the race for honours. They instil discipline in students and even the streets to use on the way home! In fact, Mutare’s second street is the pride for the junior students.
St Dominics has done its best in the area of arts through their students participating in essay writing competitions. In 2010 St Dominic’s students scooped first, second and third positions nationally in the A Level category of Ozone protection competition.
1n 2011 a St Dominic’s student won the first position provincially in the seven billion essay competition. Again in the same year, Ruth Mandigo was first nationally and second regionally in SADC essay competitions. In the same year, Kudzanayi Muraicho won the first prize in national Tourism essay competition. This year, Munyaradzi Nengomasha made the school proud again by coming second nationally in 2012 SADC Essay competition.
In the area of sport, St Dominic’s has expanded the disciplines to include golf and cricket apart from the traditional soccer, netball, volleyball, hand ball and others. In 2011, the under 20 boys brought honour to the school by winning the Catholic Schools Soccer Tournament.
Background of the school
After independence in 1980, the Dominican Sisters a Catholic religious transferred then Dominican Convent High School to his Lordship the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mutare and it assumed the name St Dominic’s High School in 1981.
35 years ago, Sister Eunice Quigley of the Catholic Franciscan Missionary Order and the founding Head the late Mr James Chinamasa were instrumental in setting up St Dominic’s as a High School on behalf of the Diocese of Mutare. The school is coeducational institution since its inception. Fr Sean Murphy, Fr Tony Clarke with Sr. Adelaide Education Secretary at the time, sought the funds and were very supportive towards the new school whose catchment was Sakubva and Dangamvura High density areas.
They were joined by five other teachers and had four form one classes. These were exciting times and so encouraging knowing that St Dominic’s has grown from strength to strength and has maintained its good reputation for providing high quality education. Many people were sceptical when the proposal for a High School was first put, so it is good to know that this proved them wrong and followed good judgement. Many many people have assisted St Dominic’s down through the years and both teachers who taught here and students who passed through are to be commended.
The school has grown from its humble beginnings in 1981 to the most preferred day School in Mutare. The first intake had 161 students. The enrolment has risen to 1 199 to date operating in one session. This Year 2016 marks 35 years of providing quality education to thousands of young men and women who have had the honour of passing through this great School. St Dominic’s our Patron Saint taught us to persevere and put God first in our journey of faith and I am pleased to say that indeed Like Day we are Showing Light.
Special mention goes to our Responsible Authority the Catholic Diocese of Mutare, Bishop Rt. Rev A C Muchabaiwa, Auxiliary Bishop Rt. Rev P Mutume, Parents, Teachers and Students for the unity of purpose and clarity of vision. Many thanks in a special way our go to founding Head the late Mr. James Chinamasa 1981 – 1987, Mr. A Muvodzi the second and long serving Head 1987-2009 and the current Head Mr. F Mukoyi who joined the School in 2010.The team of Heads are credited for creating a tradition of faith, discipline and hard work in the School. Where discipline lacks not much can be achieved.
St Dominic’s High embrace parent Ministry’s vision of developing a complete person with Unhu/Ubuntu in the area of education, sports, arts and culture. The school pledges to implement government policies in education. St Dominics has just climbed one hill and has discovered more hills ahead and is determined to climb them with a lot determination and without loss of enthusiasm.
The headmaster, Mr Francis Mukoyi said: “To our members of staff both Teaching and non teaching, thank you for the high level of commitment to the call of duty. We see God in everything we do. Special mention to Teachers for nurturing a dynamic St Dominic’s High student whose presence is being felt in various institutions in and outside the country. The lean and efficient non teaching staff compliment of 6 has done wonders in creating a wonderful environment for learning.
We cherish stakeholder involvement in the school and Zimbabwe National Army 3 Engineers Squadron deserves special mention. The new paint that brought new life to our buildings came through the services offered by the squadron. It was a humbling experience to partner with the Army.”
The Vision
We seek to provide a Holistic- Catholic Educational Experience to all our students. With presence of students from different denominations, it makes us accept the universal mission of the Church. The mission of Catholic education is to humanise society,”
Mission Statement
To promote a holistic Catholic Educational experience for all our Students within a safe and caring environment, while utilising the resources responsibly in partnership with the family, church, community and government.
In our quest for individual growth, the school cherishes in its students, teachers and employees the values of;
Catholic ethos
Self-reliance
Christian and moral principles
Self-Discipline
Academic excellence
Self-Respect
Commitment to Success
Team-work
Hard Work
Creative Thinking
Education for Job Creation
Resourcefulness
Not only students should receive an adequate instruction, but also the teachers should be the object of a formation that can lead them to the fullness of their vocation. We humble ourselves in the dedicated and resilient teaching and non teaching staff that realises that to educate children you must love them and love them equally. All for the Greater Glory of God
Online Reporter