Binga schools not bad after all

IT is said some schools in Binga and other parts of Matabeleland North are now being run by traditional leaders such as headmen and volunteers because qualified teachers are shunning the district citing poor conditions. However, if results of public examinations for last year are any barometer of the educational standards in Binga, then the Government can as well just employ the headmen as they are doing a good job compared to schools manned by qualified teachers as evidenced through a report issued recently during the Matabeleland North's Better Schools Programme of Zimbabwe Merit Awards.

At Grade Seven, Binga had the highest number of schools, four to be precise, which had at least a pupil with four units at last year's public examinations. The schools were Binga, Bunsiwa, Mulindi and Manjolo. This was far much better than schools in Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza.

And that was not the only achievement at Grade Seven level. Two schools from the district, Lusuli and Kajijima recorded 100 percent pass rate in SiNdebele. This means that all the candidates who sat for the SiNdebele paper at the two schools passed the subject.

At Ordinary Level, Binga High School also did well competing with other highly fancied schools in the province.

The school recorded 100 pass rate in Religious Studies, Woodwork and an 83 percent pass rate in the prestigious Physical Science.

Sinsundu Secondary also recorded an 80 percent pass rate in SiNdebele. Pupils in Binga also showed that they understand better the rich culture and heritage of this country when the district contributed six of the 15 schools that topped in the History subject in the whole of Matabeleland North Province. Siansundu, Tinde, Muchesu, Siabuwa, Chinego and Mupande all had more than 60 percent pass rate in History.

Schools in Binga were also among the best performers in Religious Studies providing three among the top. In Biology two Binga schools were listed as among the best while in Principles of Accounts it had three.

In Economics, there were only three schools in the province which recorded a 60 percent and above pass rate and two of them Manjolo and Kariyangwe are from Binga. The district, despite being classified as dry, last year produced one of the best results in Agriculture.

A total of 17 schools form the province recorded 60 percent and above in the subject with Manjolo and Mabuwa acing 100 percent.

Eleven pupils from Binga also managed to score at least five As at Ordinary Level resulting in the district providing the bulk of top performers under best students (day Schools) at Ordinary Level category. The purple patch for Binga schools continued at A-level with three schools in Binga recording a 100 percent pass rate in Literature in English while five schools recorded 100 percent in History.

The problem of teachers has been a major handicap especially after the Government banned the recruitment of temporary teachers. Latest statistics from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education show that Binga district needs 71 substantive heads. Educationists have been calling on the Government to quickly address the situation and from the results so far, it shows that Binga District can become a centre of producing the best pupils if it is doing such a sterling job even if the odds are against the area.