The Sunday News
Limpret Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
THE success of the new education curriculum hinges on parents’ support through timely payment of school fees and levies, an official has said.
Speaking at a speech and prize-giving ceremony at Hamilton High School in Bulawayo on Thursday, Bulawayo acting deputy provincial education director Mr Thabani Sibanda encouraged parents to pay fees so that children can acquire quality education.
“I urge parents at home to assist the children and support them in areas where they seem to be interested in. For the updated curriculum to be a success, parents and guardians are encouraged to pay fees so that children deserve quality education since a lot is needed in order to meet the needs of the updated curriculum.
“New learning areas have been introduced and learners have to identify themselves in those areas and see where they belong. With the updated curriculum, identification of talents has been seen through the Annual Science, Sports, Arts Festivals (ASSF) which was held from schools up to the national level. Learners were able to identify and showcase their talents in various disciplines and Hamilton also took part and identified their talents,” he said.
Mr Sibanda applauded the School Development Committee for working with the teachers in improving the school. The headmaster, Mr Jamani Fuyana, said it was an honour to reward pupils who have excelled in various disciplines.
“We are greatly honoured to have you gathered here to witness this important event on our calendar, the awarding of prizes for good performance in the various areas of our updated curriculum,” said Mr Fuyana.
He said the awarding of prizes was an effort to motivate learners and teachers to excel even more in future.
“In direct response to the needs of the updated curriculum and the objectives of Zim Asset, the school introduced new learning subjects and is setting up productive units that aim at self-sufficiency by generating money that can complement the fees. Our teachers have attended numerous workshops in their teaching areas so as to fully equip them to deliver in the classroom and even outside,” said Mr Fuyana.
He said the school has an enrolment of 950 pupils and 43 teachers. He said the school also conducts driving lessons and to date 14 pupils have acquired driving licences while 17 have provisional licenses.
Mr Fuyana said last year the school attained 33 percent pass rate at Ordinary level and 86 percent at A- level. He said the best A-level subjects with 100 percent pass rate were Ndebele, Literature in English, History and Business Studies. Mr Fuyana also commended the (SDC) for its great work.
“Last year we reported that our garage had remained at slab level from 2015. I am glad that it was finally completed at the beginning of this year and it accommodates the 26-seater bus and two kombis. The large hall has also been painted although it is not yet 100 percent complete, the stage curtains have been put in place, the foyer and the two toilets have been tiled, the admin block has been painted including the interior of the headmaster’s office and these offices have also been tiled and both ladies and gents toilets have been completely refurbished. There are now new toilet systems and the floors and walls are tiled,” he said.
Mr Fuyana said the school has started agricultural projects to complement the new curriculum.
“Our pride is the new banana plantation with 340 trees of the Williams variety brought from Honde Valley in February this year. The plantation is set to grow 600 trees by the end of the year. The project is the brain child of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete Masango, who suggested the project to us and three other primary schools.
“Today we have witnessed the planting of the 25 orange trees by our guest of honour and the school is also poised to erect two huge poultry units and the plans have already been drawn and approved by relevant authorities. Plans are also underway to embrace the ZIMSWAP programme, a programme that entails drilling a solar-driven borehole, complete with Jojo tanks and drip irrigation pipes,” said Mr Fuyana.
He said the projects will help develop the school and also help in paying fees for the vulnerable children.
The event was held under the theme “promoting identity and belonging through an updated curriculum.”
