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Morgan Moyo, Mtshabezi High School headmaster

Lovemore Dube
MOST institutions operate on a day-to-day basis with little thought given to proper planning for results in the future. In that instance success becomes an accident and not a carefully and well thought out programme calling for patience and sacrifice by all engaged on that path. It is no wonder that Mtshabezi High School, an education success story in Matabeleland South, continues to do well in its academic endeavours with pupils shining year in and year out.

The school is half way through one of its processes, a five-year development plan which kicked-off in 2013 and ends in 2017. The headmaster of the institution, Morgan Moyo, is happy with his school as it is rated at the top of the standings for both O and A-Level results in Matabeleland South province.

The school is also respected countrywide because of its high pass rate which competes with the best nationally thanks to a dedicated staff, disciplined pupils, committed parents, and a supportive community that works closely with the school development committee. The school’s five-year development plan is a holistic approach driven by a visionary Mission Statement which reads:

“Our vision is to create a leading co-educational High School in Matabeleland Province that is second to none in producing well disciplined, dedicated, and diligent and academically sound and physically fit individuals. It should answer to the Brethren-In-Christ Church vision — To be the most preferred school in Zimbabwe.”

True to the dream of the church of offering quality education, Matopo, Khumbula, Wanezi and Mtshabezi High Schools are up there attracting applications from thousands of young pupils eager to quench their educational thirst at any of the four schools. Moyo said the five-year plan is being driven by the co-values of integrity, transparency, commitment, empathy, loyalty, reliability and accountability, virtues that have seen him lead by example and Mtshabezi High being among the captains of the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash).

He said the school’s aim was to provide high quality education. Moyo said to achieve that it has become necessary to enhance the professional qualifications and dedication of their teaching staff. “The teaching staff aspires to develop physically, morally, socially and spiritually upright pupils for the future of the country and world at large,” he said.

Moyo said in the five-year development plan they had come up with strategies to launch the whole process of success guided by the three essential Ds — discipline, diligence and dedication. This is in line with the school’s motto; “Striving for Quality in Education.’’

The school sets benchmarks for pupils at Zimbabwe Junior Certificate, Ordinary and Advanced Levels through sustained educational programmes which enhance effectiveness and efficiency of management. In line with the development plan there were plans to offer an even more diverse curriculum with technical graphics, design technology, re-introducing dress and textiles at A-Level. The school has also embraced e-learning too.

“We’ve in our plans to engage in exchange programmes with high achievers nationally,” said Moyo. He said they would try to improve the book to pupil ratio in the next two years. The extra-curricular activities pupils engage in at the school include athletics, music, football, netball, volleyball, basketball, handball, public speaking, debate, drama, chess, cricket, charity club and nature at heart for all classes from Form One to Six.

Another factor that makes Mtshabezi High School different from most schools is that it has a special needs department manned by a teacher who is living with a disability.

She is therefore the best qualified to relate and encourage pupils with disabilities to have a positive outlook towards life. The teacher finds it easy to inspire the disabled children as she tells them they were as human and capable as the rest. Moyo praised the School Development Committee for helping develop the school and creating a habitable environment conducive to learning for children and teachers.

Just recently parents bought a truck at a cost of $65,000 among many other projects that include water reticulation. They also constructed teachers’ houses and tiling of some of the school’s buildings. With the support of the parents the school was able to refurbish laboratories at a cost of $18,000, construct semi-detached houses for $50,000, bio gas digester ($30,000), Library foyer and roofing ($7,500), mattresses, pupils’ chairs, metalwork benches, renting of desk top computers and repainting of ceilings at the girls’ hostels.

Moyo remains upbeat about the future of the school. He said; “With a proper approach all the activities lined up and/or dreamt about will be achieved.” Mtshabezi High School has been known for years as a centre for academic excellence. Pupils who wrote the June O-Level examinations achieved a 52.9 percent pass rate (those who passed at least five subjects).

Sixty three passed five subjects and above of the 119 candidates who sat for the June exams. The school had 21 pupils who wrote Economics and obtained 20 As and just one B. Thirteen of the students had more than four As. Biology enjoyed a pass rate of 94 percent with just two of the 11 candidates failing while the rest got C or better.

Geography had probably the best passes. There were 131 candidates who sat for the examinations and 118 of them passed with at least C or better. In Integrated Science, the school recorded a 92.8 percent pass rate. Last year the school posted an overall 90 percent pass rate in all subjects at O-Level.

Three pupils scored 12As, two had 11As and three more had 10As. Four pupils had nine As while the number of those with seven or more As was 34.

The school also recorded some good results at A-Level. Leo Silunde had two As in the arts subjects while Boga Bhala attaining 10 points. Leo Mahosa had distinctions in Literature in English and History.

In the Sciences: Zibusiso Ndlovu (13), Makhosini Mlilo (13), Brandon Ndiweni (13), Rival Moyo (10), Nobukhosi Sibanda (10), Sifundo Mlotshwa (10), Nqobizitha Ndlovu (10), Zibusiso Ndlovu (10) and Gugulethu Moyo and Prince Ncube were the star performers with 17 points. Ashley Ncube was the best in the Commercials.