STAFF REPORTER
Nyarutombo Primary School in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland East has now been designated a Zimbabwe Schools Examination Centre (ZIMSEC) thanks to the construction of a classroom block, toilets and a borehole by Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe.
The construction of the block with two classrooms changed the face of the educational institution, which was previously avoided by parents from nearby areas who opted to have their children walk long distances to attend examination registered schools.
The Methodist Church of Zimbabwe (MCZ) run institution has seen its fortunes change following the facelift by Stanbic Bank.
Run under the auspices of the MCZ’s Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA) the school now has a solar-powered borehole and a 10 000-litre tank ensuring the pupils have clean water all year round.
MeDRA acting National Director Tariro Washaya said the facelift by Stanbic Bank raised the profile of the school and has driven growth in the institution’s pass rate over the last two years.
Washaya said the fruits of Stanbic Bank’s work started manifesting in the first quarter of 2021 when the institution was inundated with applications for enrolment while the process for the school to be recognised as a ZIMSEC centre took effect.
“The school had a low enrollment because there were no classrooms. It was a satellite school whose pass rate was very low. I am proud to say that the pass rate has since improved significantly and the school is now an exam centre,” she said.
Washaya said the biggest beneficiaries of the facelift by Stanbic Bank were grade 7 pupils who previously had to travel long distances during examinations, often sleeping at the schools which were registered for ZIMSEC during the examination days.
Stanbic Bank Acting Head Brand and Marketing, Tariro Memo said the bank was pleased to have played its part in uplifting the lives and fortunes of the pupils, the community and its environs.
“Stanbic Bank has well thought out corporate social investment initiatives whose key attribute is premised on changing the lives of its beneficiaries in a sustainable way. Education is one of the pillars under this initiative and the plight of the students moved Stanbic Bank to construct the classroom block, toilets, provide furniture, borehole and water tank,” Memo said.
