Matabeleland schools record poor results

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MATABELELAND provinces schools once again failed to impress in last year’s Advanced Level examinations, with no school making it into the top 10, while only six made it to the top 100.

MATABELELAND provinces schools once again failed to impress in last year’s Advanced Level examinations, with no school making it into the top 10, while only six made it to the top 100.

LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI OWN CORRESPONDENT According to Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council ‘A’ Level rankings for secondary schools, the best institution was Tongwe Government Secondary School ranked 16 nationally with a 100% pass rate, followed by Zezani Secondary which is ranked 18.

Manama and Empandeni Secondary schools, both in Matabeleland South, are ranked 78 and 97 respectively.

Usher Secondary School is ranked 121, Mzingwane High 150, Mtshabezi High 169, Thekwane High 191, Phakamani High 228 and Filabusi High 248.

Matabeleland North, which includes Bulawayo, only had two schools which featured in the top 100 nationally, Mpopoma and Tshabanda High in Lupane.

Mpopoma High is ranked 63, while Tshabanda Secondary School is position 75.  Nkulumane High is ranked number 107, Maranatha Adventist School 116, Lusulu Secondary 118, St Columba’s High 123, Founders High 146, Pumula High 157, Magwegwe High 165 and St Bernard’s Secondary 173.

While there are a number of fancy schools in the region, it is the high-ranking of schools such as Nkulumane and Lusulu that will surprise many.

In primary schools ranking, Bulawayo’s Riverside Stimulation Centre and Coalfield from Hwange managed to sit on pole position with 40 other schools that took the same position, while Mpumelelo from Mpopoma was position 54, with Maranatha Primary on position 72, and Dominican Convent 89, and Mahatshula Primary on position 100.

In Matabeleland South, schools that made it into top 100 include Sacred Heart at 45, Rhodes Estate at position 65, while Gwanda’s St Christopher’s is 69th.

The 2013 Grade 7 results revealed that about six schools in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, failed to record a single pass.

The cause of such failures was attributed to poor sanitation and lack of accommodation. Poor school infrastructure and facilities were also contributing to the low pass rate.

Matabeleland North revealed that they did not have adequate classrooms and some children were learning under trees.

This was most common in Binga, where schoolchildren walk long distances.

The quality of education has been compromised by a shortage of qualified teachers.

Most teachers are reluctant to teach at remote rural schools.