…school head Maregere
sets school for new challenges
sets school for new challenges
Star
Matsongoni
Matsongoni
With a rising pass rate
and an expanding school infrastructure system, Francis Aphiri primary looks set
to become an institution occupying a place of its own in a sector characterised
by increased competitiveness.
and an expanding school infrastructure system, Francis Aphiri primary looks set
to become an institution occupying a place of its own in a sector characterised
by increased competitiveness.
Owned by Masvingo City
Council and named after one of the most revered policy makers to ever lead the
city, the late Mayor Francis Aphiri, the school has been on an upward
trajectory in its relatively short history.
Council and named after one of the most revered policy makers to ever lead the
city, the late Mayor Francis Aphiri, the school has been on an upward
trajectory in its relatively short history.
Under the leadership of
school head Henry Maregere, the school now boasts an enrollment of 1 200 pupils
mostly from the adjacent Runyararo West suburb as well from other surrounding
residential areas like Victoria Ranch and Mucheke D.
school head Henry Maregere, the school now boasts an enrollment of 1 200 pupils
mostly from the adjacent Runyararo West suburb as well from other surrounding
residential areas like Victoria Ranch and Mucheke D.
Having been developed
as a response to the ever-growing need for more educational facilities in the
sprawling city, Francis Aphiri Primary School has rapidly grown to be a school
of choice for many people in the city.
as a response to the ever-growing need for more educational facilities in the
sprawling city, Francis Aphiri Primary School has rapidly grown to be a school
of choice for many people in the city.
Since taking over as
school head, Maregere has presided over a steady rise in the grade seven
examinations pass rate from 91.27 in 2016 to 95 percent for 2019. Maregere says
his wish is to record an improved pass rate after each examination period, with
greater focus being on the quality of results.
school head, Maregere has presided over a steady rise in the grade seven
examinations pass rate from 91.27 in 2016 to 95 percent for 2019. Maregere says
his wish is to record an improved pass rate after each examination period, with
greater focus being on the quality of results.
The school has also
made formidable strides in improving its facilities; having completed the
construction of a new classroom block which is being used by grade ones and yet
another one which is currently being used by grade sevens although it was
initially designed as an industrial block for pupils studying woodwork and home
economics.
made formidable strides in improving its facilities; having completed the
construction of a new classroom block which is being used by grade ones and yet
another one which is currently being used by grade sevens although it was
initially designed as an industrial block for pupils studying woodwork and home
economics.
Francis Aphiri is also
finalizing plans to build an ‘infant centre away from the school’, and one
classroom block is already up.
finalizing plans to build an ‘infant centre away from the school’, and one
classroom block is already up.
Maregere says
experience points to the importance of isolating ECD, grade one and grade two
pupils from the rest of the classes.
experience points to the importance of isolating ECD, grade one and grade two
pupils from the rest of the classes.
“The infant department
will help the youngest of our children to be free and to be themselves. Those
are the children who are at the lowest formative years of their development so
they need to be given room to live and learn without being subjected to the same
kind of control that should otherwise be reserved for older children. The
younger children want to be happy, they want to make noise and you can’t expect
them to be as much responsive to instruction as their older counterparts do,”
said Maregere.
will help the youngest of our children to be free and to be themselves. Those
are the children who are at the lowest formative years of their development so
they need to be given room to live and learn without being subjected to the same
kind of control that should otherwise be reserved for older children. The
younger children want to be happy, they want to make noise and you can’t expect
them to be as much responsive to instruction as their older counterparts do,”
said Maregere.
He said facilities in
the envisaged infant department will also house teachers offices as well as any
other infrastructure required for early childhood academic development.
the envisaged infant department will also house teachers offices as well as any
other infrastructure required for early childhood academic development.
The school has a
thriving poultry project which recently contributed a substantial amount of
money to the coffers after the sale of 250 birds.
thriving poultry project which recently contributed a substantial amount of
money to the coffers after the sale of 250 birds.
“We also have plans to
start a rabbit and fisheries project. We have already built the ponds for the
fish and we are building a permanent foul run to replace the cages that we are
currently using. The idea is to establish separate income streams that
complement the developmental work being done using school fees,” said Maregere.
start a rabbit and fisheries project. We have already built the ponds for the
fish and we are building a permanent foul run to replace the cages that we are
currently using. The idea is to establish separate income streams that
complement the developmental work being done using school fees,” said Maregere.
Francis Aphiri Pri admin staff
He said many of the
plans were being delayed by inadequate water supplies at the school.
plans were being delayed by inadequate water supplies at the school.
“We have a borehole
here but it doesn’t yield much water. I am pleased therefore that a new
borehole will soon be drilled and most of the water will be used for those
agricultural projects,” said Maregere.
here but it doesn’t yield much water. I am pleased therefore that a new
borehole will soon be drilled and most of the water will be used for those
agricultural projects,” said Maregere.
Since becoming Francis
Aphiri Primary School head, Maregere, who previously headed Victoria Jnr and
Makoho Primary schools, has overseen a number of new projects including the
construction of a perimeter fence around the school and the paving of the front
yard.
Aphiri Primary School head, Maregere, who previously headed Victoria Jnr and
Makoho Primary schools, has overseen a number of new projects including the
construction of a perimeter fence around the school and the paving of the front
yard.
Three classroom blocks
have also been constructed and plans are that more learning space should be
created in order to decongest the classrooms and allow more pupils to be
enrolled.
have also been constructed and plans are that more learning space should be
created in order to decongest the classrooms and allow more pupils to be
enrolled.
