The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
THE Principal of Alpha Institute has announced reduction of fees for next year, 2017, and making the independent college STEM compliant.
| Nothing can be sweeter news from any school this time of a biting economic crunch and transformed curriculum. |
Speaking during the Institute’s 10th Speech and Prize giving day on Thursday last week, the college’s principal, Mr Nangisayi Marange, told the students and parents that STEM was the way to go for Alpha Institute in compliance with Government’s initiative to step up Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics as a way of conjuring up national fitness for economic purpose.
“We are improving our curriculum so that it conforms to the government’s educational blue print STEM,” reported Mr Marange.
He also said the Institute has decided and will reduce school fees from $180 to $150 with effect from January 2017 as a way of loosening the economic burden on parents who were digging deeper into empty pockets to keep their children in school.
“I take special pride to announce to parents here present that as an Institute we have not only understood but seen the parents groaning under the weight of our fees. As a school we recognize liquidity challenges and greatly appreciate your efforts to pay fees,” said Mr Marange.
Speaking about the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level ZIMSEC results the Alpha Institute principal revealed that ‘A’ level posted 97, 4 percent pass rate with one student scoring 18 points. ‘O’ level posted 43percent pass rate.
“As a result (of this sterling performance) the school came out first in the Independent Colleges catergory at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education merit award ceremony held in July 2016,” reported Mr Marange. “This is no mean achievement,” he added.
Talking about students’ spiritual and moral rearmament, which is often a critical area of child development forgotten in schools, the Alpha Institute principal emphasized the college’s programme called Chaplaincy.
“We have a fully fledged chaplaincy which takes care of the children’s spiritual and moral needs. This year out of our 410-strong enrolment, we had 105 who completed the character moulding Bible courses and graduated on August 2, 2016,” said Mr Marange. He thanked the Seventh Adventist Church for giving Bibles to all the 105 graduands.
“The school runs a very beneficial scholarship scheme for students who have challenges paying school fees,” reported Mr Marange. “Currently we have eight students on the programme…I’m glad to say that these students are doing extremely well academically and morally.”
He reported that the school wishes to increase the number of beneficiaries next year, 2017.
Mr Marange ended his address to the audience by thanking parents for attending school functions like Consultation Days, Graduation Ceremonies and Speech and Prize Giving Days.
Not forgetting his students, the father figure and Seventh Day Adventist role model, Mr Marange said, “…My dear students! Remember Success is Sweet Sweat. You are the pride of the school. Thank you for your great discipline. To those who shall write their final examinations, this year, I wish you well.”
Speaking on the same occasion, Manicaland Province’s Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Edward Shumba said Government had introduced non-formal education to augment the formal school system.
“I am glad that the private schools are also giving quality education comparing well with the formal schools,” said the PED.
He commended Alpha Institute for outstanding academic performance and healthy competition with the best schools in Manicaland.
“Alpha Institute is one of the flagships of our Independent Schools and we recognized its excellence in service by awarding it The Best Independent College award for 2015 ‘O’ level results in the Provincial Merit Awards competitions held in July this year,” said Mr Shumba. “Well done! You can do it. You have done it!”
The PED assured Alpha Institute and others that Ministry would continue to support the private schools through staff development programmes and policy guidance. He also urged parents with children in the non-formal schools to support them the same way they supported formal schools through among other ways, timely payment of school fees and monitoring homework given at school.
Mr Shumba eloquently and relevantly quoted from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart to elucidate the occasion’s appropriate theme- Success Through Perseverance. Revealing a hidden but strong appetite for Literature, he quoted Brutus in Julius Caesar and Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s evergreen novel, Things Fall Apart to show how success rested firmly on personal achievement.
The guest of honour was Mutare Teachers’ College vice-principal, Mr F Mushosho. (Watch the space in next week’s The Manica Post for a full story!) Alpha Institute’s vision is an institute that is dedicated to excellence in teaching and service, guided by shared Christian values and principles. That is what makes it special and different from other independent colleges which work on the head, forgetting the heart.
