School to sponsor medical students

A Private college in Manicaland, First Class Academy, has pledged fully paid-up scholarships for its former learners who enrol in medical school.

The college, which is located in the high-density suburb of Sakubva in Mutare, is among the top performers in the November 2019 Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) Advanced Level exams, with 15 of its learners scoring 15 points and above.

The college’s shinning jewel was Tatenda Mateke, who had 23 points.

She had As in Statistics, Business Studies and Economics, and Bs in Maths and Accounts.

The college’s outgoing headboy, Nobility Dhliwayo, led by example by scoring 19 points.

He had As in Maths, Statistics and Chemistry and a B in Physics.

Another learner, Divine Mvududu, also scored 19 points.

The 15 pointers majored in arts (five learners) subjects, sciences (three) and commercials (four).

First Class Academy principal and director, Mr Stephen Mutsongodza, said the school would offer starter packs to all 15-pointers for them to have somewhere to start when they enrol at universities of their choices.

“Our starter-pack programme is designed to cushion our excelling former learners during their first semester at universities of their choices. In this programme, we will be refunding the learners the full fees they would have paid for their last academic year at the college.

“This year, we paid each learner $1 500. This will also act as a motivator to other learners to work hard and excel in their studies,” said Mr Mutsongodza.

The starter-pack programme is now in its fifth year and also caters for those who score 5As and above in their Ordinary Level exams.

However, this year the college has unveiled fully paid-up scholarships for learners who will be enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) School of Medicine.

“We also have a role to play in the country’s health delivery system and we decided to offer fully-paid scholarships for those who will enrol at the medical school.

“Our Government is faced with a number of challenges and it us the citizenry who can also play a role in assisting in alleviating some of these challenges. We know that after graduating, the learners will also come back and assist their respective communities through medical outreach programmes,” he said.

The school is among the few private colleges with fully equipped science and computer laboratories at its two-storey structure in Sakubva.

“We decided to invest in the laboratories for us to be a one-stop shop in terms of education delivery. We also realised that if we play our part by offering science subjects, we will also help in addressing the gaps in our education chain as some schools and colleges do not have laboratories,” he said.

The college is already investing in a boarding school in Fern Valley area of Mutare, and has enrolments in Forms One, Two, Five and Six.

The first crop of Form Six learners at the boarding school will be sitting for examinations this year.

Last year, the college also offered learners from St Charles Lwanga in Chimanimani, whose school was badly damaged by the devastating Cyclone Idai, a chance to continue with their studies.

As part of their learners’ empowerment programme, they also partnered with the Vehicle Inspection Department to offer driving lessons to learners aged 16 and above.