St Faith's High, academic giant
ST Faith's High School has done it again – upholding its hegemony as Manicaland's overall academic bastion at both Advanced and Ordinary levels.
The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (Zimsec), recently released ALevel results – which showed that St Faith's High defended its position at the pinnacle of the A-Level schools ranking table, with 44 candidates with 15 points and above.
Three of its candidates – Blessing Ndumeya, Runyararo Dafi and Tinotenda Mareya – had 25 points each, followed by Shalom Kanda who had 24 points. Kanda was followed by 15 other candidates who had 20 points each. These are Tinaye Mudangwe, David Samkange, Mazvita Chiwaya, Anotida Gwande, Dereck Ndikudze, Tanatswa Makuvire, Shawn Nyoni, Tawananyasha Zvitete, Rolland Zumba, Garikai Madzamuse, Carl Madeyi, Luis Marshal, Bright Handireketi, Simbisai Chinhema and Diana Munharu.
The school, run by the Anglican Diocese of Manicalnd, had eight other candidates – Munotida Dukwara, Tinevimbo Moyo, Maggie Chidziva, Tadiwa Machipanda, Kuzivakwashe Chirairo, Nyasha Madziwa, Quiton Mudzimu and Ashlom Muchada – with 19 points each.
The other candidates attained between 15 and 18 points respectively.
The school had 117 candidates and a 100 percent passrate.
In 2022, St Faith's High was number one with 47 candidates with 15 points and above from 108 candidates. Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba commended the school for its splendid performance at A-Level.
“St Faith's High from Makoni was the top performing school in the province, and I would like to congratulate the school head and his administration, teachers, the candidates and parents for a job well done, and urge them to aim even higher,” he said. St Faith's High head, Mr Arnold Makamba was ecstatic about his school's performance, and attributed the good results to the self-motivated and hardworking teachers, ancillary staff, learners and supportive parents and the Responsible Authority – the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland.
“We were able to achieve and maintain out standards due to the hard-working learners and teachers, and above all unity of purpose among the teaching and ancillary staff, the Responsible Authority and School Development Committee (SDC),” he said.
He said they will strive to meet and exceed expectations in addressing the needs of their learners through a comprehensive, well-rounded education and environment that inspires, challenges, encourages and supports them to attain their full potential without hindrance and excuse. Mr Makamba said the school provides nutritious meals; spiritual, social, mental and emotional mentorship; have access to a multiplicity of ICT and research tools and live in a hygienic and supportive learning environment which guarantee their academic exuberance.
“We are the goose that lay the golden eggs (results) in the district, province and country, and we will jealously guard that reputation. We are a boarding high school that offers a wide curriculum from Form One to Six, and our passrate should go up with every passing year – both at Ordinary and Advanced levels,” he said.
St Faith's High also proved its academic exuberance in the region after one of its learners – Wesley Anesu Tapera – emerged victorious in the Southern African Development Community 2023 Essay Writing Competition.
The country scooped all the three top awards, with Manicaland Province providing the eventual winner and the second runner-up.
Tapera, of Madetere, as St Faith's High is affectionally known, raised the country's flag high when his essay was judged the best.
For his brilliance, Wesley walked away with US$500 cash.
Presenting the award to Wesely recently, Mr Shumba said his triumph was symptomatic of his intrinsic ability to interpret the socio-political and economic dynamics in the region as a result of the competent curriculum being taught in schools.
“The SADC Essay Writing Completion helps learners to develop writing, listening, research and problem solving skills. We are happy as a province to produce learners who posess such skills. This is a result of a competent curriculum and dedicated teachers.
“Wesley has raised the country's flag high and other schools and learners should emulate him. Our schools should always encourage their learners to take part in such important competitions and events. The road to victory in such competitions is not easy as the competition starts from school level up to the regional level where learners from 16 other countries compete,” he said. Mr Makamba said teamwork and dedication of staff and learners are the reasons which make his school the bastion of education in the country.
“We are delighted as the school to produce a learner who has conquered the entire region. We are in a celebratory mood. The school groomed Wesley into a sensible, hardworking and diligent learner who is well behaved.
“He is a determined learner who does not give up easily as evidenced by his entrance into the 2023 competition after missing out on the previous ones. St Faith's High will continue to shine and produce learners with a winning mentality,” he said. Wesley paid tribute to his mother, teachers and fellow learners for providing him with appropriate guidance and an environment that made him prosper.
“I am over the moon because of this achievement. It is a lifetime achievement to be the best in the region. Credit goes to my dear mother, my teachers and my schoolmates. Without them, I would not have achieved this. I took my time to understand the topic and made thorough research to answer the questions,” he said. School Development Committee chairman, Dr Lovemore Chipunza said history has put the school under pressure to produce good results, which is why stakeholders at the institution share a common vision and understand their role in achieving that vision.
He said most parents rate learners' achievement as one of their top concerns, hence their conscious decision to send their children to St Faith's High.
“The intrinsic joy of a parent receiving excellent results at the end of a six-year academic cycle is what drives this school to such dizzy heights of achievement. St Faith's High performance is indicative of teamwork by all relevant stakeholders. “We are happy about the O and A-Level results, which shows the excellent collaboration between the school head and administration, teachers and ancillary staff, the SDC, parents, the learners themselves and our Responsible Authority. The results are borne out of teamwork and collaboration,” he said.
Dr Chipunza said the SDC is in the process of installing a more efficient optic fibre to enhance internet connectivity and research as well as improving the various facets of infrastructure at the school, including