Source: Corporate backing lifts school excellence awards -Newsday Zimbabwe
THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry has credited growing corporate support for the expansion of its Sector’s Merit Award programme, after Nyamhunga High School and Dudley Hall Primary School were named the 2025 winners for Mashonaland West province at a colourful ceremony held last Thursday at Dudley Hall Primary School in Norton.
The two schools were recognised for excellence in project implementation, Heritage-Based Curriculum delivery, and technical vocational education.
Permanent secretary in the ministry, Moses Mhike, said the awards had grown significantly since their inception, largely due to partnerships with the private sector.
“Around 20 companies came on board so that we can then be able to award the schools that did very well in a whole range of issues that we were looking at,” he said.
The Sector’s Merit Award was introduced to recognise and incentivise schools that excel in implementing government education priorities at district and provincial levels. The programme assesses schools on the delivery of the Heritage-Based Curriculum, rollout of practical and technical vocational subjects and implementation of developmental projects that improve learning environments.
Mhike said the Norton event marked the second provincial stop this year, following Mashonaland East. The ministry plans to roll out the awards across all 10 provinces, with the aim of showcasing best practices and raising national education standards.
“I am extremely excited about the level of the Sector’s Merit Award that we have achieved,” Mhike said. “We hope these prizes are going to enhance our teaching and learning and improve our learning outcomes.”
Edutech chief executive officer, Luke Musambasi, whose organisation has partnered the ministry for years, said the awards created a direct link between private sector expertise and classroom outcomes.
“When we invest in schools that are delivering on practical skills and innovation, we are investing in the future workforce,” Musambasi said. “The Sector’s Merit Award gives us a clear framework to identify and support institutions that are getting it right.”
Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Josphat Jaji said the scale of support on display demonstrated the limits of relying solely on government and school development committees.
“Government alone or the school development committees alone would not be able to give all the support that we have seen happening today,” Jaji said.
“This is what happens when government, business and communities work together.”
Speaking on behalf of both schools, Nyamhunga High School headmaster Godfrey Address Mbewe expressed gratitude to the ministry and its partners, saying the award reflects years of collective effort and commitment.
“We gather not merely to acknowledge the conferment of an award, but to celebrate a culture of excellence, commitment and unwavering dedication to the noble cause of education,” Mbewe said.
He said the recognition reflected the work of administrators, teachers, support staff, learners, parents and the wider community and should serve as motivation for other schools.
“It sends a clear message that national recognition is attainable through sustained commitment to quality education, innovation and effective transformational leadership,” he said.
Mhike urged continued media and stakeholder support as the ministry seeks to expand the programme nationwide.
“As a ministry, we want to continue getting more and more support,” he said. “As media, we would really want to urge you to continue supporting us.”
The post Corporate backing lifts school excellence awards appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.