Mutare schools rule the roost at Grade 7

facet of agriculture,” said Mr Chihowa.

He said they had already put behind the recent success and were at an advanced stage planning next year’s programmes.

Manicaland provincial education director, Mr Edward Shumba, congratulated all the top 10 schools for the sterling achievement.

He said the 2018 results, however, showed a decrease in pass rate for the province compared to last year.

Mr Shumba said Agriculture had caused the slight drop in standards since it was introduced as an examinable subject last year, which affected many schools’ performances.

He also cited English and Shona as problematic subjects.

“Despite the drop in average pass rate, Chancellor Junior continues to dominate the ZIMSEC Grade Seven examinations at 28 candidates with five units followed by Mutare Junior with 25 and Baring Primary with 20. Other notable performers are Gaza Primary (17), St Joseph’s Mutare (17), Mt Mellary Primary of Nyanga (17), St Joseph’s Primary (Rusape) (14), Dangamvura Primary (nine), John Cowie (nine) and St Jude’s Primary (nine).

“I have not yet looked at the results since I am away, but I am reliably informed that we are highest once again.

“We are yet to work out the average percentage pass-rate,” said Mr Shumba.

He added that they would convene a meeting on the subjects which were not done well and come up with strategies to improve them.

He said learners and teachers were lacking in the implementation of agriculture because of inadequate resources in some schools.

“We need to convene a meeting to come up with strategies to improve in the subjects, which were not performed well especially agriculture. The gap is now open for everyone to excel and let us put all effort to maintain our good standards. The pupils performed well in general paper and mathematics,” said Mr Shumba.

He attributed the schools’ success to hard work and commitment on the part of the learners themselves, teachers and parents as well as the numerous workshops organised by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which have also helped equip them with the requisite syllabus interpretation skills.