The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Post Correspondent
SITUATED along the Tanganda-Chiredzi Road in the precincts of Checheche Growth Point in Chipinge District, Gutika Academy is the first school in the area to offer boarding facilities.
The academy is the brainchild of Mr Garikai Nhamo and Mrs Joyce Gwenzi. Gwenzi is a businessman based in Chipinge who is into hardware and construction. Private in status, Gutika is a co-educational academy that offers both day and boarding facilities.
It was established in 2016 and is registered with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. It was established with the aim of providing education for both boys and girls from Form 1-6 and offers ZIMSEC examinations. The school also exposes children to a wide range of sporting activities.
Some of the A-Level female students
Director of the school Mr Garikai Nhamo Gwenzi exclusively revealed to The Manica Post how he came up with the idea of establishing a school.
“Our main idea was to venture into education since there are no boarding schools in the area. There was a high demand of boarding schools in Chipinge district.
“We are running two schools in Chipinge with boarding facilities. Gutika Academy started operating in 2017 and we have Forms 1 to 6.
“We are also running a junior school called Pagomo, which is located in Chipinge town. Pagomo started operating this year,” he said.
Gutika Academy Primary School learners and their teachers
Gutika School was opened in 2016 and started operating last year. The head of the school is Mr Morgan Chisedzi who is deputised by Mr Kenias Mashame.
The school motto is “Future begins here”. The mission statement is “We promote academic excellence”. Mr Gwenzi said the enrolment of the school had increased compared to last year.
Last year, the enrolment was 85 without the Ordinary-Level and A-Level students. This year, a total of 164 students enrolled at the school. Of the 164 students, 56 are boarders, 70 are day boarders and 38 are day scholars. There are 15 teachers at the school.
“At Gutika School we have the best and active personnel. Our selection process is thorough and accurate in order to provide the students with the best education and know-how.
“Gutika Academy is a multi-cultural school; we enrol students from all cultures and ethnicities. The main language is English, which makes it easier for the children to communicate with each other despite their diverse backgrounds.
“The students are taught several subjects that prepare them for university. Sports are vital to the students’ development, physically and are also part of career choices at a later stage in life. The school offers the students a variety of sporting activities like volleyball, soccer and athletics and we are hoping to introduce many more this year.
“Last year we did not do well due to low enrolment and subsequently came third in the NASH district games.
“This year, we are starting with sports full-time. We will have a variety since we now have more students compared to last year. Last year, every pupil would participate even if she or he was not good at the sport. This year, we hope to excel in all the sporting disciplines, “he said.
The academy charges fair fees for both Advanced-Level and Ordinary-Level. For A-Level full boarding is $650, day boarders pay $300 while day scholars pay $200.
Ordinary-Level is $550 for full boarding, $250 for day boarders and $150 for day scholars. There are nine classes and four more under construction. The school performed well in the end of year exams last year and the pass rate was 87 percent. Mr Gwenzi said he was expecting more positive results this year.
“We are expecting 100 percent pass rate this year. We have 15 O-Level students and 12 A-Level students. Our teacher-pupil ratio is 1: 15 and 1:12 so we do not expect any of our children to fail.
“During the course of the year, we host a few events at the school. At these events, we invite parents, potential donors, current donors, staff and students from other schools,” he said.
Parents and guardians are allowed to visit their children twice per term. The school offers four meals a day, porridge, mid-morning tea, lunch and supper.
Uniforms for the senior girls are sky blue skirts, white shirts and white jerseys. Senior boys wear black trousers and white shirts. The uniform for the junior girls is maroon skirts, blue shirt and maroon jerseys while the junior boys wear the same colours.
“Pagomo Junior School offers Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Grades 1-7. We have seven teachers and 15 students. Of the 15 students, six of them are boarders and are mainly from Chipinge. The head is Ms Dorothy Dekesa.
“For full boarding, they pay $500, day boarders pay $250 while day scholars pay $150. Our ECD students pay $100. We also have six classrooms and we are also constructing another block, which we hope to complete by February this year.
“We will build more boarding facilities soon to accommodate more students. We are accommodating our students in Chipinge town but next year they will be staying at the school.
‘‘We will also buy a bigger bus that will help us to do door-to-door collection and delivery of our students. At the moment, we are using solar at the school, but by February, we will have electricity,” he said. Mr Gwenzi said their plans were to develop both schools.
“We want to make both schools the most attractive schools in Chipinge. We want to construct two-storey buildings. We also want our children to have trade tests at the school.
“We are going to have a driving school at the school for children who are above 16 years. We want them to have licences so that when they finish school they will be well covered,” said Mr Gwenzi.
The school is also looking forward to having a clinic in the near future to cater for the schoolchildren. Both schools are important in Chipinge district, as there were no schools with boarding facilities. Gutika also became the first school to have a school bus.
