By Admore Mbonda in Norton
NORTON – It was more than just a prize-giving ceremony. It was a celebration of sweat, strategy, and smart leadership.
Last Thursday, Nyamhunga High School and Dudley Hall Primary School were crowned Mashonaland West’s 2025 provincial winners of the Sector’s Merit Award—a rapidly growing recognition programme that rewards schools for doing more than just passing exams.
The colourful event, held at Dudley Hall Primary School in Norton, honoured the two institutions for their outstanding performance in project implementation, Heritage-Based Curriculum delivery, and the rollout of technical and vocational education.
What makes the programme tick? Steady corporate backing.
According to the Primary and Secondary Education ministry’s permanent secretary, Moses Mhike, the involvement of around 20 companies has allowed the ministry to cast a wider net and reward deserving schools across a broader range of criteria.
“Around 20 companies came on board so that we can then be able to award the schools that did very well in a whole range of issues that we were looking at,” Mhike said.
He explained that the Sector’s Merit Award was introduced to recognise and incentivise schools that excel in implementing government education priorities at district and provincial levels. Assessments focus on curriculum delivery, practical and technical vocational subjects, and developmental projects that tangibly improve the daily learning environment.
Norton marked the second provincial stop for the programme this year, following Mashonaland East. The ministry has plans to take the awards to all ten provinces.
“We are extremely excited about the level of the Sector’s Merit Award that we have achieved,” Mhike said. “We hope these prizes are going to enhance our teaching and learning and improve our learning outcomes.”
Also speaking at the event, Luke Musambasi, chief executive officer of Edutech, noted that the awards serve a crucial bridge-building role—connecting private sector expertise with the real-world needs of Zimbabwe’s classrooms.
For Mr. Godfrey Mbewe, head of Nyamhunga High School, the victory was deeply personal. He attributed the win to teamwork and a renewed commitment to quality delivery across both the curriculum and developmental initiatives.
“Winning this award motivates both teachers and learners to continue working harder,” Mr. Mbewe said. “We are also grateful to our partners and the ministry for recognising the efforts we are putting into improving the learning environment for our community.”
In an education landscape often focused solely on examination pass rates, the Sector’s Merit Award sends a powerful message: a great school is measured not just by test scores, but by the lives it transforms, one project, one classroom, and one improved environment at a time.
About Author
