Collen Bawn High School scoops Secretary's Merit Award

The government has reiterated the need for teachers to be conversant with the local languages of areas they operate from in order to communicate with learners more effectively, particularly those at the infant level.

This came out during the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Secretary's Merit Awards held at Collen Bawn High School in Gwanda.

Parents in Matabeleland have in the past attributed the low pass rate in the region to the deployment of teachers who are not familiar with the languages spoken in the area.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Silvia Utete Masango says the teacher capacity development programme is among the interventions made to train teachers in indigenous languages so that they are able to communicate with young learners.

Dr Utete Masango says with the new education curriculum also placing emphasis on technical and vocational studies, schools are encouraged to ensure students acquire life skills that will help them survive after completing their education.

Collen Bawn High School scooped the coveted secretary merit award and pocketed US$5 000.

Their success is a result of hard work, dedication and commitment says the school head.

The Secretary Merit Award is won by a school that would have outclassed others in curriculum innovation and compliance, non-formal education activities, learner achievements and child friendliness, as well as school governance.