Zimpapers Logo

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THIRTEEN secondary schools from Bulawayo’s Khami District converged at St Bernard’s High School for the 2017 Annual Science, Sports, Arts Festival (ASSAF) which ended yesterday.

The two-day event saw St Bernard’s High School playing host to 12 other schools which include Mbuyazwe Secondary, Inyanda Secondary, Masotsha High, Amhlophe Secondary, Pumula High, Pumula South High, Premier High, Green Gables High, Khami Secondary, Mbonqane Secondary, Sizalendaba Secondary and Red Bank High  schools.

ASSAF is a brainchild of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as a way of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the new curriculum     in equipping learners with skills, knowledge and values.

ASSAF has been conceived as a key implementation strategy that will be undertaken from school level right through to national level.

The schools competed in athletics, netball, soccer, drum majorettes, mass display and Science and Mathematics, visual arts, dance, drama, music, culture and modelling.

The best students in each category will represent the district and the Provincial Annual Science, Sports, Arts Festival (PASSAF) to be held at White City Stadium next month.

Khami District Schools Inspector Jane Ndebele said the festival, which is being held for the first time this year, will help unlock hidden talents among students.

“ASSAF is intended to ensure participation by all learners at school level and by significantly higher numbers at cluster, district, provincial and national levels. This is a critical component of the new curriculum which is intended to provide learners with a holistic quality education that is competence-based and which broadens the career options for learners either as employers or employees,” said Ndebele.

She added that the festivals will also create opportunities for learners who are struggling and those excelling to receive further support so that their talents are developed to the maximum extent possible. — @khumzallen