By Gift Gwindingwe
In a significant step towards educational transformation, Jenya High School in Chivi North’s Ward 5 constructed a 1000-seater multi-purpose theatre aimed at promoting both psychological and physiological well-being of learners, while aligning with the expectations of the newly-introduced Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC).
The theatre, though modest in appearance, is a beacon of innovation for the medium-sized rural school with an enrolment of approximately 550 learners and 24 established teachers.
The development was led by the forward-thinking leadership of young, industrious and vibrant school head, Tinashe Rubaya with support from the staff and parents as well as the leaners.
Pitched on steel poles with a corrugated iron roof and open sides, the theatre combines simplicity with functionality. Its paved floors are designed with architectural precision to allow for effective drainage during rainfall, ensuring the comfort of learners throughout all seasons.
Speaking to TellZim News, Rubaya emphasized the importance of creating an environment beneficial to learner welfare.
“As a school, we aim to cater for the physiological welfare of our learners at all costs, that’s why we constructed this theatre that will serve as an assembly point and a modern study center among other uses.
Apart from serving as a gathering space, Rubaya said the theatre also serve as a hub of academic activity.
“With strong WiFi connectivity enabled by a Star Link facility installed at the administration block, the space becomes a vibrant study Centre during lessons. ‘A’ Level teachers often use the venue to facilitate online research and collaborative learning,” said Rubaya.
Looking ahead, Mr. Rubaya outlined a bold vision for the school saying the theatre would cultivate a culture of reading as the school prepares for the introduction of hard sciences.
“The theatre will go a long way in cultivating a culture of reading in our learners. We want to introduce hard sciences beginning next year, (2026). We have the capacity and the potential as a team.
However, the investment in digital infrastructure does not end with the theatre. The school’s administration block and its Computer and Innovation room have also been equipped with the Star Link combo, ensuring robust internet access for both staff and students.
“In this era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we want to ensure maximum adoption of ICT but with the sole focus of domesticating social media to create content that best suits the learners’ lived experiences. We want to curb over-excitement that comes with social media exposure. We redirect the excitement into meaningful learning that advances the goals of the HBC so that our learners appreciate both the wider and their local environments,” he said.
Commenting on the theatre, the deputy head Leonard Musiteri, concurred saying the school valued the importance of having assemblies so they did not want that to be affected by weather.
“We always want to have meaningful assemblies that are not disrupted by rains during the rainy season. We also want to protect learners from the heat that withers their energy away that is why we have this structure,” said Musiteri.
The senior teacher Happiness Chipako said cleanliness was a virtue at the school and they had installed a hand-washing facility for use by all, promoting cleanliness among teachers, learners, and visitors.
“We want to make sure that cleanliness is a virtue here at Jenya High School. The hand-washing facility is relevant to the HBC which promotes cultural continuity and public health to ensure the overall well-being of Jenya High School staff and learners,” Chipako.
The developments at Jenya High are not ordinarily symbolic but tell a practical story of what the 4th Industrial Revolution demands in innovation, digital literacy, and rural empowerment.
Such grassroots efforts demonstrate that the seeds of national industrialization and innovation are sown early in schools that understand and operate in line with the mission and vision of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
