Bulawayo achieves impressive pass rate in Grade 7 exams

Bulawayo Province has continued its strong performance in the 2024 Grade Seven examinations, with an impressive pass rate of 80.14%. This marks a notable improvement from last year's 79.60% pass rate. The 2024 results reflect the province's ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of education, with 13 schools achieving a perfect 100% pass rate.

Among the top-performing schools in the city were Dominican Convent, Coghlan, Fairview, The Pillar, Kumalo, ZRP Ross Camp, Amazon, Centenary, Maranatha, Queen Elizabeth SDA, Charlestone, Ezekiel Guti, and Sibanesezwe Primary Schools. Notably, Dominican Convent, Fairview, ZRP Ross Camp, Amazon, Queen Elizabeth SDA, Charlestone, and Sibanesezwe maintained their streak of 100% pass rates from 2023, continuing their outstanding performance.

In contrast, the province saw a significant improvement from last year, when Tsetse Primary School in Khami District recorded a zero percent pass rate. The absence of zero percent pass rates this year is a testament to the province's focused efforts on addressing underperformance.

Acting Provincial Education Director (PED) for Bulawayo, Mr. Lawrence Mkwala, praised the results in a preliminary analysis, highlighting that the province's strategy of intensified internal and external supervision had contributed to the success. He also emphasized the importance of adequate staffing and consistent oversight to maintain and improve these results. "We want to intensify both internal and external supervision of learners to ensure they continue recording good grades," he said.

The province's total candidate pool for 2024 increased, with 13,627 learners sitting for the exams - 8,210 girls and 8,794 boys - compared to 12,820 candidates in 2023. While the overall pass rate improved, some schools, including Mangwabi, Hyde Park, Hope Fountain, White Stone, Aiselby, St. Peters, and Redbank, recorded pass rates below 50%, with Redbank achieving the lowest at 20%.

To address these disparities and further improve results, Mr. Mkwala outlined plans to continue building on the progress made. The province intends to capacitate teachers, particularly in early childhood education, by promoting the Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spellings Skills (THRASS) program. This program aims to enhance reading and spelling proficiency, especially for pre-school learners and students with special educational needs.

Mr. Mkwala also highlighted the importance of holding regular workshops to equip Grade Seven teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge. Internal remediation at all educational levels will also be introduced to help boost students' grades and prepare them for higher academic challenges.

Bulawayo's educational efforts are particularly commendable given the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted learning across the country. The province has made significant strides in the wake of the pandemic, with its pass rate increasing from 67.4% in 2020 to 80.14% in 2024, marking a consistent upward trend.

The continued rise in pass rates underscores Bulawayo Province's dedication to improving educational outcomes and providing quality education to its students, setting them on a path to success in their academic futures.