Opinion / Columnist
Top 100 schools at O'Level raise eyebrows
20 Feb 2017 at 02:44hrs | Views
Often times, when we try to act as intelligent as we think we are, we usually portray the highest level of our stupidity. We usually strech our imaginations and start majoring the minor.
One thing that definitely crops up to mind when one hears such statement is the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, headed by none other than Lazarus Dokora, who is undoubtedly having the time of his life.
The minister has managed to tie bears on everyone's legs in the Zimbabwean education sector that many are suggesting his actions are attributed to his borderline personality disorder, while others feel the ministry is being run by someone who has gone soft in the head.
Well, I know they are not experts in that field. Maybe, if it was in some developed countries where there is so much discussion around psychology, and every action is viewed in terms of subconscious drives, someone would have probably brought up the much needed answer on the minister's mental state.
The incumbent minister has introduced so many things during his tenure including the the national pledge, the new curriculum, and even threatened teachers with pay cut if they fail to produce a certain percentage of the desired results.
It is that pay cut threat, that led schools to come up with a concoction of shenanigans ranging from registering students as non-formal to recruiting pupils with five units and below at form one, encouraging not so bright students to repeat classes, connive with corrupt zimsec official for pre-exam tips, the list is endless.
Unfortunately, all this is happening under the ministry's nose, while they are focusing on trivials. A quick glance at last year's best one hundred schools will expose a shocking revelation. Big schools with five or more classes have100 % pass rates with children that cannot fill up one or two classes. Some schools whose number of candidates raise eyebrows are number 2 Nyanga High School with 65 candidates and 100% pass rate, number 3 St Anthony's High School with 72 candidates and a100% pass rate, number 4 Sandringham Secondary School with 64 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 5 St Ignatius College with 65 candidates and a100% pass rate.
Sitting at number 6 is Hebron High School with 30 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 7 Shungu High School with 85 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 8 Zaka High School with 28 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 9 Chinorumba Secondary School with 21 candidates and 100% pass rate.
With these results, one is tempted to think that most schools in Zimbabwe have one or two O' Level classes. I am not so sure about the teacher to pupil ratio given such statistics, but most these figures are expected at satellite schools and not at well established schools. If I am wrong I am more than ready to swallow camels.
In other words, this would mean some big schools like in the case of Chinorumba Secondary School has 84 students from form one to four, Mutare Girls High 212, Sandringham Secondary School 240, Hartzell 172, Dadaya 240 and so on. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong by making an assumption that the number of students recruited at form one is likely to be the number of candidates at O' Level. The figures paints a picture that the Zimbabwean education system has improved tremendously and the ministry deserves a pat on the back and should be applauded for improving the teacher to pupil ratio. With 72 candidates it would mean two classes of 36 students each or three classes of 24 students each or even in some cosy situations, four classes of 18 students each. Unfortunately, this is not is not the case in most cases if not all. The best 100 schools list shows 100 % pass rates regardless of number of candidates. It can be noted that some schools recorded 100% pass rates while others had very low pass rates. This does not give a true reflection of the school's performance and can be so misleading if comparison is made by considering these percentage pass rates. However, I feel schools should be grouped according to candidature, so that high entry schools are compared on their own, followed by medium, low entry, and very low entry schools. In fact, this year's best 100 schools not only discourage hard working teachers and pupils but encourage unscrupulous ways of attaining a 100% pass rate through hook and crook. What is mind boggling is that, while schools try to use every trick in the book to outclass each other to impress that harlequin who is excited beyond control, the grandiloquent minister and his partners in crime's children are studying abroad, and can not recite three words of that inane national pledge, let alone know the meaning of mass display. Even their extended families in Zimbabwe are writing Cambridge exams and attending expensive private schools, but he is trying to shove his trash down our children's throats without any slight compunction. Lord have mercy!
It's so disheartening to hear the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) director, Esau Shingirai Nhandara and the seemingly nonchalant minister himself commenting highly on such a grotesque, incongruous and flawed list, as if its something out of the ordinary.
Instead, the minister, rather than expending his energy on fixed false beliefs of introducing an experimental and an opaque curriculum whose feasibility is questionable, and whose costs far outweigh the benefits, he should focus chiefly on improving the existing curriculum, incentivising teachers' efforts and restoring yesteryear's dignity the profession deserves.
If that is not possible then let's hope that in the next fews days if not weeks he will be polite enough to be found out of office after tendering his resignation. In fact, he should do it in less time than it takes to say "Amen", otherwise the whole education sector is going to the grave and vistors and our great great grandchildren will always hear the requiem and read the epitaph engraved on a marble stone : HERE LIES THE REMAINS OF THE ZIMBABWEAN EDUCATION SECTOR WHO WAS GRUESOMELY MURDERED BY DOKORA AND DIED FROM MALADMINSTRATION AND MISMANAGEMENT. See full list of the best 100 schools below:
Position | Centre Name Candidature | %Pass Rate
1. ST FAITH's SECONDARY SCHOOL 107. 100%
2. NYANGA HIGH SCHOOL 65. 100%
3. ST ANTHONY's HIGH SCHOOL 72. 100%
4. SANDRINGHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL 64. 100%
5. ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE 65. 100%
6. HEBRON HIGH SCHOOL 30. 100%
7. SHUNGU HIGH SCHOOL 85. 100%
8. ZAKA HIGH SCHOOL 28. 100%
9. CHINORUMBA SECONDARY SCHOOL 21. 100%
11. ST DAVID's BONDA 84. 100%
12. ROOSEVELT GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL 91. 100%
13. CHATIKOBO HIGH SCHOOL 21. 100%
14. MUTARE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL 53. 100%
15. TUNGWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL 27. 100%
16. TONGWE GOVT RURAL SECONDARY 22. 100%
17. MUTIMWI HIGH SCHOOL 29. 100%
18. ZEZANI SECONDARY SCHOOL 21. 100%
19. ANDERSON SECONDARY SCHOOL 37. 100%
20. MHARI HIGH SCHOOL 25 100%
21. GUTU HIGH SCHOOL 78. 98.72%
22. MUFAKOSE 1 HIGH SCHOOL 148. 98.65%
23. JAMESON HIGH SCHOOL 72. 98.61%
24. ST PAUL's MUSAMI 61. 98.36%
25. MARANGE HIGH SCHOOL 60. 98.33%
26. MONTE CASSINO SECONDARY58. 98.28%
27. MAZOwE HIGH SCHOOL 55. 98.18%
28. GOKOMERE HIGH SCHOOL 108 98.15%
29. ST MICHAEL's HIGH SCHOOL 52 98.08%
30. CHIBI HIGH SCHOOL 51 98.04%
31. ST ALBERT's SECONDARY SCHOOL 51 98.04%
32. ST JOHN's SECONDARY SCHOOL 98. 97.96%
33. PAMUSHANA SECONDARY 98. 97.96%
34. ZIMUTO SECONDARY 92. 97.83%
35. HARTZELL HIGH SCHOOL 43. 97.67%
36. NYAMUZUWE SECONDARY. 42 97.62%
37. MT SELINDA HIGH SCHOOL 84. 97.62%
38. ST AUGUSTINE's PENHALONGA 82 97.56%
39. CHINDUNDUMA 41. 97.56%
40. REGINA MUNDI SECONDARY SCHOOL 81 97.53%
41. ST FRANCIS XAVIER's KUTAMA 78. 97.44%
42. ZENGEZA HIGH SCHOOL78. 97.44%
43. MANGWENYA SECONDARY 39. 97.44%
44ST DOMINIC's HIGH SCHOOL 78. 97.44%
45. ST JOSEPH's SECONDARY 77. 97.40%
46. KRISTE MAMBO SECONDARY 77. 97.40%
47. MUZONDO HIGH SCHOOL 36. 97.22%
48. CHEGATO HIGH SCHOOL 71. 97.18%
49. EMMANUEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 69. 97.10%
50. RATELSHOEK SECONDARY SCHOOL 34. 97.06%
51. MIRIRANGWE SECONDARY 33. 96.97%
52. NYAZURA ADVENTIST HIGH 66. 96.97%
53. BERNARD MIZEKI 33. 96.97%
54. ST MARK's SECONDARY 32. 96.88%
55. RUSUNUNGUKO HIGH 63. 96.83%
56. HAMA SECONDARY 63. 96.83%
57. Z.R.P. 62. 96.77%
58. GOROMONZI HIGH SCHOOL 93. 96.77%
59. MARONDERA HIGH 93. 96.77%
60. SANYATI BAPTIST SECONDARY 57. 96.49%
61. SERIMA SECONDARY110. 96.36%
62. MUKARO HIGH 53. 96.23%
63. MPOPOMA HIGH 130. 96.15%
64. NYASHANU SECONDARY76. 96.05%
65. GOMOREFU SECONDARY 25. 96.00%
66. MUTERERE SECONDARY 25. 96.0%
67. MUTENDWE HIGH 25. 96.0%
68. NYABATA SECONDARY 49. 95.92%
69. NERUPIRI SECONDARY 24. 95.83%
70. WADZANAI HIGH 48. 95.83%
71. DEWURE HIGH 95. 95.79%
72. CHEZIYA GOKWE HIGH 71. 95.77%
73. ST DOMINIC's CHISHAWASHA HIGH 47. 95.74%
74. KWENDA SECONDARY 47. 95.74%
75. TSHABANDA SECONDARY 23. 95.65%
76. GIDEON MHLANGA SECONDARY 23. 95.65%
77. CHEMHONDORO SECONDARY 67. 95.52%
78. MANAMA HIGH SCHOOL 66. 95.45%
79. RIMBI HIGH SCHOOL44. 95.45%
80. MNENE SECONDARY 44. 95.45%
81. JITI SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
82. GOMBAKOMBA SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
83. CHIDEMBO SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
84. DADAYA HIGH SCHOOL 60. 95.0%
85. BRADLEY SECONDARY 59. 94.92%
86. HOWARD MISSION 97. 94.85%
87. NGEZI SECONDARY 76. 94.74%
88. MAKUMBE HIGH SCHOOL 56. 94.64%
89. MUREWA HIGH SCHOOL 110. 94.55%
90. NEMAKONDE HIGH 91. 94.51%
91. CHINGOMBE ALHEIT HIGH 53. 94.34%
92. HIGHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 121. 94.21%
93. BEREJENA SECONDARY 69. 94.20%
94. HIPPO VALLEY SECONDARY SCHOOL 86. 94.19%
95. KANA SECONDARY SCHOOL 33. 93.94%
96. LUNDI SECONDARY 81. 93.83%
97. EMPANDENI SECONDARY SCHOOL 64. 93.75%
98. ARCTURUS SECONDARY 32 93.75%
99. MWENEZI GOVERNMENT SECONDARY 62 93.55%
100. NYADIRE SCHOOL 31 93.55%
Garikai Mafirakureva is a Zimbabwean Journalist and an independent analyst.. Feedback on garrymafirakureva09@gmail.com You can follow him on twitter @Garry4Peace or Facebook Ras Garikai Mafirakureva Jnr
One thing that definitely crops up to mind when one hears such statement is the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, headed by none other than Lazarus Dokora, who is undoubtedly having the time of his life.
The minister has managed to tie bears on everyone's legs in the Zimbabwean education sector that many are suggesting his actions are attributed to his borderline personality disorder, while others feel the ministry is being run by someone who has gone soft in the head.
Well, I know they are not experts in that field. Maybe, if it was in some developed countries where there is so much discussion around psychology, and every action is viewed in terms of subconscious drives, someone would have probably brought up the much needed answer on the minister's mental state.
The incumbent minister has introduced so many things during his tenure including the the national pledge, the new curriculum, and even threatened teachers with pay cut if they fail to produce a certain percentage of the desired results.
It is that pay cut threat, that led schools to come up with a concoction of shenanigans ranging from registering students as non-formal to recruiting pupils with five units and below at form one, encouraging not so bright students to repeat classes, connive with corrupt zimsec official for pre-exam tips, the list is endless.
Unfortunately, all this is happening under the ministry's nose, while they are focusing on trivials. A quick glance at last year's best one hundred schools will expose a shocking revelation. Big schools with five or more classes have100 % pass rates with children that cannot fill up one or two classes. Some schools whose number of candidates raise eyebrows are number 2 Nyanga High School with 65 candidates and 100% pass rate, number 3 St Anthony's High School with 72 candidates and a100% pass rate, number 4 Sandringham Secondary School with 64 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 5 St Ignatius College with 65 candidates and a100% pass rate.
Sitting at number 6 is Hebron High School with 30 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 7 Shungu High School with 85 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 8 Zaka High School with 28 candidates and a 100% pass rate, number 9 Chinorumba Secondary School with 21 candidates and 100% pass rate.
With these results, one is tempted to think that most schools in Zimbabwe have one or two O' Level classes. I am not so sure about the teacher to pupil ratio given such statistics, but most these figures are expected at satellite schools and not at well established schools. If I am wrong I am more than ready to swallow camels.
In other words, this would mean some big schools like in the case of Chinorumba Secondary School has 84 students from form one to four, Mutare Girls High 212, Sandringham Secondary School 240, Hartzell 172, Dadaya 240 and so on. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong by making an assumption that the number of students recruited at form one is likely to be the number of candidates at O' Level. The figures paints a picture that the Zimbabwean education system has improved tremendously and the ministry deserves a pat on the back and should be applauded for improving the teacher to pupil ratio. With 72 candidates it would mean two classes of 36 students each or three classes of 24 students each or even in some cosy situations, four classes of 18 students each. Unfortunately, this is not is not the case in most cases if not all. The best 100 schools list shows 100 % pass rates regardless of number of candidates. It can be noted that some schools recorded 100% pass rates while others had very low pass rates. This does not give a true reflection of the school's performance and can be so misleading if comparison is made by considering these percentage pass rates. However, I feel schools should be grouped according to candidature, so that high entry schools are compared on their own, followed by medium, low entry, and very low entry schools. In fact, this year's best 100 schools not only discourage hard working teachers and pupils but encourage unscrupulous ways of attaining a 100% pass rate through hook and crook. What is mind boggling is that, while schools try to use every trick in the book to outclass each other to impress that harlequin who is excited beyond control, the grandiloquent minister and his partners in crime's children are studying abroad, and can not recite three words of that inane national pledge, let alone know the meaning of mass display. Even their extended families in Zimbabwe are writing Cambridge exams and attending expensive private schools, but he is trying to shove his trash down our children's throats without any slight compunction. Lord have mercy!
It's so disheartening to hear the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) director, Esau Shingirai Nhandara and the seemingly nonchalant minister himself commenting highly on such a grotesque, incongruous and flawed list, as if its something out of the ordinary.
Instead, the minister, rather than expending his energy on fixed false beliefs of introducing an experimental and an opaque curriculum whose feasibility is questionable, and whose costs far outweigh the benefits, he should focus chiefly on improving the existing curriculum, incentivising teachers' efforts and restoring yesteryear's dignity the profession deserves.
If that is not possible then let's hope that in the next fews days if not weeks he will be polite enough to be found out of office after tendering his resignation. In fact, he should do it in less time than it takes to say "Amen", otherwise the whole education sector is going to the grave and vistors and our great great grandchildren will always hear the requiem and read the epitaph engraved on a marble stone : HERE LIES THE REMAINS OF THE ZIMBABWEAN EDUCATION SECTOR WHO WAS GRUESOMELY MURDERED BY DOKORA AND DIED FROM MALADMINSTRATION AND MISMANAGEMENT. See full list of the best 100 schools below:
Position | Centre Name Candidature | %Pass Rate
1. ST FAITH's SECONDARY SCHOOL 107. 100%
2. NYANGA HIGH SCHOOL 65. 100%
3. ST ANTHONY's HIGH SCHOOL 72. 100%
4. SANDRINGHAM SECONDARY SCHOOL 64. 100%
5. ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE 65. 100%
6. HEBRON HIGH SCHOOL 30. 100%
7. SHUNGU HIGH SCHOOL 85. 100%
8. ZAKA HIGH SCHOOL 28. 100%
9. CHINORUMBA SECONDARY SCHOOL 21. 100%
11. ST DAVID's BONDA 84. 100%
12. ROOSEVELT GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL 91. 100%
13. CHATIKOBO HIGH SCHOOL 21. 100%
14. MUTARE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL 53. 100%
15. TUNGWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL 27. 100%
16. TONGWE GOVT RURAL SECONDARY 22. 100%
17. MUTIMWI HIGH SCHOOL 29. 100%
18. ZEZANI SECONDARY SCHOOL 21. 100%
19. ANDERSON SECONDARY SCHOOL 37. 100%
20. MHARI HIGH SCHOOL 25 100%
21. GUTU HIGH SCHOOL 78. 98.72%
22. MUFAKOSE 1 HIGH SCHOOL 148. 98.65%
23. JAMESON HIGH SCHOOL 72. 98.61%
24. ST PAUL's MUSAMI 61. 98.36%
25. MARANGE HIGH SCHOOL 60. 98.33%
26. MONTE CASSINO SECONDARY58. 98.28%
27. MAZOwE HIGH SCHOOL 55. 98.18%
28. GOKOMERE HIGH SCHOOL 108 98.15%
29. ST MICHAEL's HIGH SCHOOL 52 98.08%
30. CHIBI HIGH SCHOOL 51 98.04%
31. ST ALBERT's SECONDARY SCHOOL 51 98.04%
32. ST JOHN's SECONDARY SCHOOL 98. 97.96%
33. PAMUSHANA SECONDARY 98. 97.96%
34. ZIMUTO SECONDARY 92. 97.83%
35. HARTZELL HIGH SCHOOL 43. 97.67%
36. NYAMUZUWE SECONDARY. 42 97.62%
37. MT SELINDA HIGH SCHOOL 84. 97.62%
38. ST AUGUSTINE's PENHALONGA 82 97.56%
39. CHINDUNDUMA 41. 97.56%
40. REGINA MUNDI SECONDARY SCHOOL 81 97.53%
41. ST FRANCIS XAVIER's KUTAMA 78. 97.44%
42. ZENGEZA HIGH SCHOOL78. 97.44%
43. MANGWENYA SECONDARY 39. 97.44%
44ST DOMINIC's HIGH SCHOOL 78. 97.44%
46. KRISTE MAMBO SECONDARY 77. 97.40%
47. MUZONDO HIGH SCHOOL 36. 97.22%
48. CHEGATO HIGH SCHOOL 71. 97.18%
49. EMMANUEL SECONDARY SCHOOL 69. 97.10%
50. RATELSHOEK SECONDARY SCHOOL 34. 97.06%
51. MIRIRANGWE SECONDARY 33. 96.97%
52. NYAZURA ADVENTIST HIGH 66. 96.97%
53. BERNARD MIZEKI 33. 96.97%
54. ST MARK's SECONDARY 32. 96.88%
55. RUSUNUNGUKO HIGH 63. 96.83%
56. HAMA SECONDARY 63. 96.83%
57. Z.R.P. 62. 96.77%
58. GOROMONZI HIGH SCHOOL 93. 96.77%
59. MARONDERA HIGH 93. 96.77%
60. SANYATI BAPTIST SECONDARY 57. 96.49%
61. SERIMA SECONDARY110. 96.36%
62. MUKARO HIGH 53. 96.23%
63. MPOPOMA HIGH 130. 96.15%
64. NYASHANU SECONDARY76. 96.05%
65. GOMOREFU SECONDARY 25. 96.00%
66. MUTERERE SECONDARY 25. 96.0%
67. MUTENDWE HIGH 25. 96.0%
68. NYABATA SECONDARY 49. 95.92%
69. NERUPIRI SECONDARY 24. 95.83%
70. WADZANAI HIGH 48. 95.83%
71. DEWURE HIGH 95. 95.79%
72. CHEZIYA GOKWE HIGH 71. 95.77%
73. ST DOMINIC's CHISHAWASHA HIGH 47. 95.74%
74. KWENDA SECONDARY 47. 95.74%
75. TSHABANDA SECONDARY 23. 95.65%
76. GIDEON MHLANGA SECONDARY 23. 95.65%
77. CHEMHONDORO SECONDARY 67. 95.52%
78. MANAMA HIGH SCHOOL 66. 95.45%
79. RIMBI HIGH SCHOOL44. 95.45%
80. MNENE SECONDARY 44. 95.45%
81. JITI SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
82. GOMBAKOMBA SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
83. CHIDEMBO SECONDARY 21. 95.24%
84. DADAYA HIGH SCHOOL 60. 95.0%
85. BRADLEY SECONDARY 59. 94.92%
86. HOWARD MISSION 97. 94.85%
87. NGEZI SECONDARY 76. 94.74%
88. MAKUMBE HIGH SCHOOL 56. 94.64%
89. MUREWA HIGH SCHOOL 110. 94.55%
90. NEMAKONDE HIGH 91. 94.51%
91. CHINGOMBE ALHEIT HIGH 53. 94.34%
92. HIGHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 121. 94.21%
93. BEREJENA SECONDARY 69. 94.20%
94. HIPPO VALLEY SECONDARY SCHOOL 86. 94.19%
95. KANA SECONDARY SCHOOL 33. 93.94%
96. LUNDI SECONDARY 81. 93.83%
97. EMPANDENI SECONDARY SCHOOL 64. 93.75%
98. ARCTURUS SECONDARY 32 93.75%
99. MWENEZI GOVERNMENT SECONDARY 62 93.55%
100. NYADIRE SCHOOL 31 93.55%
Garikai Mafirakureva is a Zimbabwean Journalist and an independent analyst.. Feedback on garrymafirakureva09@gmail.com You can follow him on twitter @Garry4Peace or Facebook Ras Garikai Mafirakureva Jnr
Source - Garikai Mafirakureva
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