The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter—
MANICALAND continues to dominate Zimsec Grade Seven examinations, with Chancellor Primary School in Mutare attaining the highest number of candidates with four units nationwide for the third time on the trot.Grade Seven results released late last week showed a gradual improvement for the province from last year, with Chancellor Primary School having 71 pupils that attained four units, while Rusape’s John Cowie Primary School– the second in the province – has 42 pupils with four units.
Mt Mellary of Nyanga came third with 37 pupils, while Baring Primary in Mutare and Mutare Junior Primary School were all tied on fourth position with 36 candidates who got four units.
Gaza Primary School in Chipinge had 30 pupils with four units.
Chancellor Primary School headmaster, Mr Masimba Chihowa, attributed the success of his school to hard work.
Mr Chihowa said the numerous workshops being organised by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had also helped equip them with the requisite syllabus interpretation skills.
“I am very excited to have achieved such a feat. I want to attribute it to commitment and hard work that was shown by pupils, parents and teachers.
“The parent ministry has helped us a lot through provision of refresher courses or workshops especially on syllabus interpretation. The PLAP programme has managed to change our results significantly.
“We really hope that we will continue to post good results. While on surface this might be viewed as an achievement for Chancellor, in real sense it is achievement for the province,” he said.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, attributed the success of the province in Grade Seven examinations to effective implementation of the Early Reading Initiative (ERY) as well as Performance Leg Address Programme (PLAP).
“A cursory look at the results shows that there is a gradual improvement in our results as a province. We are yet to work out the average percentage pass-rate, but it is clear that we have quite a number of schools with 100 percent pass-rate.
“Yes, Chancellor had 74 candidates with four units last year and this year they have 71, but the school that was second last year in the province had 38 pupils with four units and now we have John Cowie in second position with 42. This shows that we are maintaining if not improving from last year.
“I do not want to proffer a mono-causal approach because I believe there are a number of factors that contributed to it. The advent of our provincial merit awards has helped giving direction to our schools in the province.
“Effective implementation of the Early Reading Initiative as well as Performance Leg Address Programme have contributed to the good results being scored in the province,” said Shumba.
