Education

Pomp and fanfare at Gokomere Mission speech, prize giving day

Aaron Gono

Gokomere High School is a Roman Catholic run institution which was established in 1898 by the Jesuit Fathers.

 The mission boasts of Gokomere Central Primary, High School and workshops where school leavers can attain certificates in carpentry, motor- mech, electrical and plumbing. All these workshops have modern equipment which students can use to sharpen their skills in their chosen careers.

Gokomere High School is strategically located some 15km from Masvingo City, along the Masvingo- Harare highway. It also boasts of some scenic historical drawings in nearby kopjes. Gokomere schools are academic institutions where students are taught moral, religious and education par excellence.

On 12 October 2024 Gokomere High chose to reward its high performing students in all disciplines, like ball games, athletics, chess, singing, smartness, behavioral, and group discipline.

 Since 2018, no prize giving was done at the school to honour the best performing students. Guest of Honor was Ishmael Chigaba the Masvingo District Schools Inspector. Other notable figures were heads from nearby schools.

The Chaplain Rev. Father Wezana opened the event by welcoming everybody. And the SDC chairperson, Mudhunguyo took to the podium and gave parents and students highlights of the past years, challenges faced by the school and how they were canned, and achievements made at the school.

 It was a SWOT analysis.

 He noted some challenges which were affecting the school some previous years including the wayward behavior of pupils at the high school although now it has been mitigated and addressed.

Its strengths were finding a way to end indiscipline at the school and also improving teachers’ welfare. Establishing fast internet and solar equipment at the school, as students are no longer disrupted by power outages. There is also an opportunity to establish studying facilities in hostels. And Gokomere High alumni are contributing much to the availability of water at the school. He also pinpointed that parents also have a role to play in mitigating wayward behavior of their children.

Madam Rushambwa (senior teacher) also emphasized on the theme of the speech and prize giving day “BE SMART, BE DRUG FREE.” She advised students to avoid drugs; as they can blight their future.

The head of Gokomere High also took the parents and students down the memory lane. He highlighted that Gokomere High, although it never excluded day scholars from its enrollment in the 1960,70s, 80s etc.

 The school had a reputation of grooming bright students. He mentioned some alumni of the school like the late Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, former minister of education Dr Dzingai Mutumbuka, former minister of energy Dzikamai Mavhaire, Dr. Tauya The Flying Doctor Murewa, Dr. Solomon Huruva Mukungunugwa Dr. Ebard Svosve Mandishona etc as some students and famous Zimbabweans who were groomed at the institution.

In sports Gokomere High is an epitome of hard work, as it excelled in all major games. This year (2024), it successfully hosted the Catholic ball games ( CASA ). At national level, Gokomere came fourth in beach volleyball out of twenty five teams that met in Mudzi district in Mash. Central.

 The team was coached by P. Gono and led by S. Pukeni (the Sports Director of Gokomere High). Its Quiz competition team ended up in Tanzania (Dar el Salaam). Also the school choir competed in Gokwe (Catholic Schools) and came second.

 Their choir conductor Charity Jinjika displayed her acumen in music. Handball is coached by Chitekuteku, and basketball by Mushangwe, they can’t be all winners but the teams are comprised of stars and very promising players.

The school is also developing a development plan, where Emmanuel Muvengi, the headmaster encourages all parents to provide the way forward for the school. The Rev. Priest in Charge of Gokomere Mission, Fr. Samson Mutsvanga also thanked former students, for their continued support of the school. He also wished Gokomere schools to be the big brothers in the academic circles.

 And also in moral and religious circles. He noted how Godfrey Musema who was the first student to attain 30 points in science subjects at Gokomere High. He said Gokomere Mission will remain a bastion of evangelization and academic achievements.

 Chigaba also emphasized on using technology to the best advantage of the students, not as a tool of self inflicted wounds. He also strengthened on the importance of good behaviour and team work amongst the staff. The day had lots of entertainment from the Gokomere High Marimba band and some poetries from budding poets.

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