By Virginia Njovo
MASVINGO – Helen McGhie Primary School in Masvingo has been recognised as one of
the top ten primary schools in the country, receiving the prestigious 2025 Secretary’s Bell
Merit Award for its outstanding performance in academia, sports, and infrastructure
development.
The award was handed over by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent
Secretary Moses Mhike during a joint ceremony held at Chiredzi Government High School
recently.
Helen McGhie won the primary school category and Chiredzi Government High School in
the secondary school category.
The Secretary’s Bell Merit Award is given to one best primary and one best secondary school
in each province that has demonstrated outstanding academic excellence, infrastructure
development, cultural and sporting achievements, as well as successful implementation of the
heritage-based curriculum.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike described the two
schools as “centres of excellence, innovation, discipline, technology integration and holistic
learner development.”
“These two schools have positioned themselves as centres of excellence, innovation,
discipline, technology integration and holistic learner development,” said Mhike.
For years, Helen McGhie has been consistent in maintaining high pass rates in Masvingo
District, making it an academic excellence centre.
In the 2025 Grade 7 examinations, out of 123 learners, only one learner could not make it,
giving the school a 99.99 percent pass rate.
The school’s pass rate in 2024 was 100 percent, in 2023 it was 97.67 percent, in 2022 it was
97.33 percent and in 2021 it was 97.9 percent.
This sustained performance reflects the collaborative efforts among the school, teachers,
learners, and parents.
The school has embraced technology, using interactive boards in every classroom from ECD
up to Grade 7. This commitment to ICT in education has been praised by the Permanent
Secretary, who noted that Helen McGhie has embraced technology through the use of
interactive boards in all classrooms and smart TVs in ECD classes.
Helen McGhie also received four boxes of textbooks, 100 textbooks and interactive boards,
along with a Bell plaque and teaching and learning materials worth US$4,005.
The school also received three laptops, three tablets, one Starlink kit, three solar kits, a
heavy-duty printer and photocopier, book vouchers, a robotics kit, a small printer, a
wheelbarrow, shovel, pick and 50kg of rice.
In a major milestone, Helen McGhie Primary School recently acquired a high-end 73-seater
luxury coach from Vordim Trading Private Limited.
The bus, an Asiastar Luxury Coach YBL61488, is the second of its kind in the country, with
the other one at Mafidhi Mnangagwa Primary School in Redcliff Town, Midlands Province.
The high-end coach is equipped with modern features such as seven television sets, Wi-Fi, a
refrigerator, a water dispenser, USB charging ports at every seat, air conditioning and an
onboard toilet.
The purchase comes with a five-year free service package, driver training and round-the-
clock breakdown assistance and the acquisition contributes to the school’s recognition
The school’s administration expressed excitement over the new development, highlighting
that the coach will ease transport challenges for learners, assist with school runs and be used
for executive hirings and sports trips.
Helen McGhie runs various income generation projects, including a 40x20m fish pond
project with a carrying capacity of 4,000 fish, developed in partnership with the Zimbabwe
Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPARKS). The school also runs a poultry project with 150
layers and 100 road runners, selling eggs to the community. Additionally, the school has
ventured into banana production to boost nutrition and generate income.
Apart from academic excellence, Helen McGhie is also recognised as one of the cleanest
schools in the province. Its Environment Project Club is functional and practical, with solid
waste management practices and value addition projects preparing various accessories.
The school is also constructing a multi-purpose sports arena to enhance talent development.
In this year’s NAPH athletics events, Clara Chingadza and Shamiso Hwenjere reached the
provincial level in the 4×100 relay.
In soccer, Makatendeka Sibanda made it to the national Under-14 boys’ team. In tennis,
Ropafaradzo Muyenzenge and Wilstaff Sitemere also reached national level competitions.
Helen McGhie has also performed well in quiz competitions. The school finished second in
the Traffic Safety Council provincial quiz and participated in National AIDS Council and
National Museums quizzes.
In the 2025 National Annual Science, Sports and Arts Festival (NASSAF) held at Chancellor
Primary School in Mutare on 7 October 2025, Miranda Muzande, under the guidance of
Kudzayi Judith Mandishe, won first place nationally.
The school won the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe provincial quiz competitions,
receiving US$300 prize money and a sole ticket to represent the province at the national
competitions. Helen McGhie also raised Masvingo’s flag high at the 2025 National Primary
Schools Heritage Quiz Competition, securing third position after a tiebreaker with
Mashonaland Central, and earning 100 day-old chicks and US$415 in cash.
At the 2026 National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) National Heritage
Education Quiz at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Helen McGhie Primary School finished
fourth with 66 points, narrowly missing a podium finish.
With a strong focus on holistic development, technology integration, and talent grooming,
Helen McGhie Primary School continues to set the pace in both academic and extracurricular
