The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
FIRST Class Academy has continued scoring firsts as its driving lessons programme for former students is bearing fruits barely a month after its launch.
The college last month partnered with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe to offer its outgoing students driving lessons.
A total of 24 students enrolled for the programme which saw them having driving lessons before sitting for provisional driver’s licence tests where 23 passed.
Students paid $30 for the course. Of the $30, $20 was for the lessons, $5 was used to buy the Highway Code, $2 was used for driver’s licence photos and only $3 was left for the programme administration and logistics.
Two students who partook the course are already proud owners of Class Two driver’s licences after deciding to seriously embark on driving lessons with a driving school of their choice.
19-year-old Nunurai Agnes Rakabopa made history at the college and is arguably one of the proud young holders of a Class Two driver’s licence in Mutare.
Rakabopa and her cousin, Jabulani Masharata (28) who also undertook the same course all passed their Class Two driving tests and were duly awarded certificate of competence by the Vehicle Inspection Department.
In an interview last week, Rakabopa who is waiting for her O-Level results, said: “I was encouraged by mother to go for a Class Two driver’s licence. My mother’s argument was that many people were holders of Class Four driver’s licence and I had little chances of being considered on the job market with a Class Four driver’s licence. I took her advice seriously and decided to go for a Class Two driver’s licence. I was a bit nervous during my first encounter driving a lorry in the usually busy Mutare streets.
“My instructor encouraged me to remain focused and this cooled my nerves. I gained confidence each day. At the end of my 30 lessons I was ready to undergo a road test and I succeeded during my first attempt.”
Rakabopa hailed First Class Academy administrators for introducing the programme as it had empowered her with a course before the announcement of her O-Level results.
An orphan, Masharata, said although he was not a student at First Class Academy, the college’s administrators allowed him to undertake the course.
“I am a school dropout following the death of my parents, but I want to thank First Class Academy for according me the chance to enrol for the driving lessons. I am now a proud holder of a Class Two driver’s licence thanks to First Class Academy.
“My dream is to get a job and raise money. After raising money I will approach First Class administrators for a place to enrol for my O-Level. I want to continue with my education,” he said.
First Class Academy administrator, Mr Stephen Chiwara, said the two had done the college proud.
“I am very impressed by their achievement. This was done in very short space of time. I want to encourage all those who obtained their learners’ driver’s licences here to emulate Rakabopa and Masharata. Nothing is impossible in life and Rakabopa proved that. Her achievements as a young holder of a Class Two driver’s licence helped to put our college on the map of achievements. I am at a loss of words because Rakabopa managed to obtain a Class Two driver’s licence within a month after obtaining her learner’s licence. Some grown-ups struggle to achieve her feat and she deserves special mention.
“As a college we embraced Tech-Voc education and the results are there for everyone to see. We will continue to be innovative and empower the young people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Chiwara said the course was part of First Class Academy’s efforts in implementing the new curriculum which is also giving emphasis on imparting technical vocational skills to students.
“We are embracing the new curriculum which is giving emphasis on imparting life skills to students. As a college, we saw it fit to introduce driving lessons. The main aim of this programme is to keep our students who would have finished writing their national examinations busy.
“We realised that it takes years for one to acquire a driver’s licence and most people usually take driving lessons seriously after competing their tertiary education. We want to ensure that some of the students will enrol for their tertiary education already equipped with driver’s licences. Our target is those aged 16 and above, in short, someone with a national identification card can enrol,” he said.
First Class Academy has scored a lot of firsts since its establishment a decade ago.
It has scooped the Secretary Merit Award, Manicaland and Mutare District merit awards.
It was also won Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce-sponsored awards for two successive years, while its students are among the best performers at national examinations in the province.
The college has since embraced STEM education as well as e-learning. It has constructed the state-of-the-art Science and Computer laboratories at its Chinyausunzi complex.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the college’s responsible authorities, Mr Stephen and Tracy Mutsongodza spearheaded the construction of a bridge linking Chisamba Singles and Chinyausunzi areas of Sakubva.
