Staff Reporter
BUHERA – In a significant stride towards educational modernization, RCZ-run Makumbe High School in Buhera officially commissioned a new state-of-the-art classroom block and two new vehicles, a Toyota D4D double cab and a kombi, during a combined ceremony held on October 4, coinciding with the schools annual Speech and Prize Giving Day.
The event highlighted the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe’s sustained commitment to upgrading both infrastructure and resources across its educational institutions.
Speaking during the commissioning, RCZ Education Secretary Dr. Witmos Mutumburanzou acknowledged that while many church-established schools still operated with older infrastructure, there was a clear vision to replace them with modern facilities suited to contemporary learning needs.
“We have old infrastructure, but we have a vision to have new infrastructure that answers to the 21st century like the one we are going to see here. We are running with that vision, and we are happy that we have support from our stakeholders,” said Dr. Mutumburanzou.
He further revealed that the church was also prioritizing the integration of digital learning tools, such as interactive boards, into the classroom environment. While noting that several RCZ schools had already begun this transition, he admitted that the full potential of digital education had not yet been realized across the board.
Dr. Mutumburanzou also took the opportunity to commend Makumbe High for its outstanding academic performance, disclosing that he had set the school a target of an 80% pass rate at O-Level and 96% at A-Level targets which the school not only met but exceeded.
Echoing the same sentiments, RCZ Moderator Reverend Dr Ezekiel Baloyi praised the teaching staff for their dedication and results. He particularly highlighted that several teachers were producing more than 100 A grades collectively and stressed the need for more teachers to follow suit so as to maintain and build upon this success.
“I heard there is a teacher who produced more than 100 As here, that is good, however, we need to make sure that it’s not one. Many teachers should have the same results,” said Rev Dr Baloyi.
The School Development Committee Chairperson Evelyne Chipadza said the school had ongoing projects set to be commissioned as well once completed while they have others on cards.
“We have ongoing projects that is renovations of both boys and girls hostels as well as the installation of tower lights in the hostel areas. We also have future plans. We intend to expand the poultry project to commercial level, install solar geysers as well as expanding the garden and do cattle fattening,” said Chipadza.
The newly commissioned block is expected to alleviate classroom overcrowding and provide a more conducive learning environment, while the addition of the Toyota D4D and kombi will bolster transport logistics for both academic and agricultural activities the latter being a growing strength of the school, as evidenced by its thriving farm projects.
The event was attended by local MP Tafadzwa Mugwadi, who gave cash prizes to best perfomers per grade, church officials, representatives from sister schools, and community members, all witnessing firsthand the church’s deliberate investment in creating a holistic and forward-looking learning environment.
