Nyatsime College Prize-giving Day: A focus on heritage-based education

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The 2024 Nyatsime Speech and Prize Giving Day held at the school premises in Chitungwiza on 5 October 2024 came at a critical stage where the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) is transforming from the Enhanced New Curriculum to the Heritage Based Curriculum (HBC) for Primary and Secondary Education.

In a speech read on her behalf by a representative of the Provincial Education Director for Harare, Mr. Joram Mupunza, the Guest of Honour, Hon. Angeline Gata, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education said through the heritage-based education, the idea is to give children an education that is based on our resources and our values as espoused in Ubuntu.

“Our curriculum should answer to the needs of commerce and industry in our country. We have five sectors of the economy that need to be serviced by graduates. The reason why we had to change from the competence-based curriculum to the heritage-based curriculum is that the heritage-based curriculum was emphasized in some areas leaving out others.

“But the change was incremental. We took some of the successes of the competence-based curriculum and we continue with them in the heritage-based curriculum,” she said.

In his speech, Dr. Shepherd Masaraure, the Principal of Nyatsime College, said education now focuses on the acquisition of competencies namely knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and positive dispositions.

“As MOPSE stakeholders it is indeed of paramount importance for us to understand the significance of the heritage-based education from a Zimbabwean context, the focus being to exploit Zimbabwe’s tangible and intangible heritage as we incorporate the physical, social, and cultural traditions, histories, and lived experiences of diverse communities into the learning process.

“Emphasis is on grounding education in the rich heritage of the pupils which, if well-articulated and aligned with research, innovation, and industrialization, which are tenets of Education 5.0, would churn out graduates who are economically equipped with entrepreneurial skills for nation building and individual sustenance towards the realization of Government’s vision of a middle-income economy by 2030,” Dr. Masaraure said.

Below, Spiked Online Media shares the pass rate for Nyatsime College for the past 10 years for both Ordinary and Advanced levels:

YEAR	“O” LEVEL PASS RATE	“A” LEVEL PASS RATE
2023	88.36%	100%
2022	82.07%	94.44%
2021	73.03%	97.89%
2020	86.49%	94.3%
2019	89.70%	98.14%
2018	91.33%	98.88%
2017	80.60%	91.30%
2016	91.61%	98.36%
2015	68.20%	100%
2014	70%	91.23%

Below are developmental projects by the school, some of which were meant to mitigate the adverse economic operational environment:

Dr. Tommie Marie Samkange Memorial Clinic was dedicated to guaranteeing the safety of our students during the COVID-19 period and saving large sums of money that were previously being paid to outside medical service providers. The College Clinic is currently being manned by state registered nurses and a former student of Nyatsime College as a visiting Dr.
The Garment Making Factory can produce ALL uniform requirements including jerseys, tracksuits as well as work suits. This is an income-generating project that could see the College realizing revenue if it extends its market to other schools and institutions.
The rehabilitated Dining Hall wing witnessed the installation of 4 x 300l oil-jacketed pots to cushion the College from rampant power outages. Right now our students are guaranteed timely food serving because cooking can just go on even when ZESA is off.
Construction of a classroom block to accommodate 2 Form 1 classes that have been officially opened today. We thank parents for their financial support.
Construction of Ablution facilities at this Multi-purpose Hall as well as fitting of Aluminum windows and doors.
Drilling of 4 new boreholes as a quest to ensure the College sufficient water supplies.
Embarking on a comprehensive 4 cycle poultry project that has seen us being self-sufficient in the supply of both chicken and eggs.
Purchasing live cattle at Auctions and rearing them on campus for timely slaughtering is cutting the traditional costs by almost half.
Sprucing up the infrastructure through renovations and construction of staff quarters.
Purchase of a small tractor for grass-cutting
Construction of a dura wall at our Makoni stand, chief among other developments like learning materials purchases on things like textbooks and Computers from Q-Rent.

Key dignitaries who graced the ceremony included the Deputy Provincial Education Director (SECNEF), Mr Naison; the District Education Officer for Chitungwiza Dr. Elisha Kujeke; the Public Service Commission Inspector for Chitungwiza District; the Board of Governors of Nyatsime College Chairperson, Mr. Jemias Muguwe; and the Nyatsime SDC Chairperson, Pastor Chikumbu, to name a few.