By Takudzwa Mashumba
Turning 100 is a milestone deserving of celebration and St Anthony Primary School in Zimbabwe kicked up their heels on Friday to do just that.
St Anthony Chikupo Primary is located at the confluence of two Murehwa major rivers, to the right the Shavanhowe and to the left Nyaguwe. It is also strategically and magnificently situated between two landforms, the Great Nyaungwe and Chikangambavha Mountains, the land of beauty.
Founded on the 25th of October 1913 by Roman Catholic missionaries from St Paul’s Musami Mission with a mere 20 pupils in its first year, the school has swelled to more than 500 today.
The Centenary Celebrations began with a Roman Catholic Mass Service followed by activities from various groups from local schools and from the village as well as speeches from former oldest students.
Among the dignitaries present were Dr Stanley Mashumba who was the guest of honour, Member of Parliament for Murehwa West, Cde Ndoro, ward 11 Councillor, District education officers, seven neighbouring village headmen and Ministry of Primary and Education representatives.
Scores of former students, staff and parents were all on hand at the celebrations reflecting on the growth and achievements the school has recorded during the past 100 years.
It was an amazing day walking around and talking to all former students and staff and listening to their stories,” said the current school headmaster, Mr Mashava.
Among the school’s oldest alumni on hand for the formalities were Bridget Mashumba, Bankrobber Mudimu and Teacher Chonzi. These three gave each other turns telling stories and memories of the school’s former days.
“There were no formal classrooms, we used to gather on hills and under tree were we would conduct our lessons. We didn’t have books and blackboards, our books were slates (rock peelings) and our pens were special limestone stones which they fetch from the nearby village(Chizhanje),” said Bridget Mashumba.
“To motivate us to attend and enjoy lessons, the missionaries used to give us sweets and other funny foodstuffs and we would enjoy that,” she added.
Speaking on the same occasion, Dr Mashumba said, it was the responsibility of the community to make sure the school standards are maintained and there should be mutual relationship between school administration, School Development Association (SDA) and the parents.
“The SDA, school administration and the parents should have one mind and one vision which is seeing the school developing, but the community has the big role to play to ensure school standards are maintained because it is a community school,” said Dr Mashumba.
It was during reflection time that although St Anthony Primary was developing, its feeder Chikupo Secondary is at the verge of collapse posing a greater threat to bright graduating primary school students with many forced foot 18 kilometres to nearby secondary schools.
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Improper school management of funds (corruption) as well as misunderstanding between the school administration and parents have led the school to be in this state. Enrolment has deteriorated from 350 students to 120 students and staff at the school was reduced to seven teachers.
“The other big challenge is also that secondary school toilets were destroyed during last year’s rainy season and the school has posed a health scare to many prospective students and we appeal for help from both the community, government and other stakeholders,” said Mr Chikopfa the secondary school SDA chairman.
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