Judith Phiri judith.phiri@sundaynews.co.zw
JOHN Tallach High School has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing talent, promoting innovation and equipping learners with skills to transform local resources into opportunities for national development and global success.
Speaking at the school’s prize-giving day ceremony on Saturday, guest of honour and Zimbabwe Gender Commission chairperson Dr Leslie Ncube said the theme, “Homegrown Excellence: Cultivating Talent
Through Local Resources into Global Success,” underscored the importance of education in unlocking the country’s potential.
He said Zimbabwe’s abundant natural resources, including fertile soils, minerals, forests, wildlife and water, presented opportunities for economic growth in agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and energy production.
“However, natural resources alone cannot guarantee prosperity. They must be supported by knowledge, skills, innovation, and responsible leadership. Our greatest resource is not merely what lies beneath our soil but the talent and creativity of our people,” he said.
Dr Ncube said education played a critical role in equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to turn available resources into opportunities that benefit society.
He said a learner studying agriculture could become a scientist developing drought-resistant crops, while a student interested in technology could create digital solutions to improve agricultural productivity.
“These are examples of how local talent can address local challenges while contributing to global progress. At John Tallach High School, learners must be encouraged to look at their surroundings with curiosity and creativity.
“Instead of asking only what resources we have, they should ask, ‘What can we create from the resources available to us?’ That question is the starting point of innovation and entrepreneurship. Our young people must understand that their backgrounds do not limit their potential,” he said.
Dr Ncube encouraged learners to embrace modern agricultural technologies, irrigation, scientific research and climate-smart practices to improve food production, create employment and connect local farmers to international markets.
In the mining sector, he said Zimbabwe needed to move beyond extracting and exporting raw materials towards processing minerals and manufacturing valuable products locally.
He said tourism also presented opportunities in conservation, hospitality, research and business, adding that natural resources became more valuable when combined with education, technology and innovation.
Dr Ncube challenged learners to aspire not only to secure employment but also to create jobs, establish businesses and contribute to national development.
“Education must go beyond passing examinations. It must prepare learners to solve real-world problems and apply their knowledge practically. When learners study Science, Mathematics, Geography and Business Studies, they should understand how these subjects can address challenges in agriculture, health, energy, industry and commerce,” he said.
He urged the school to continue promoting practical learning, research, entrepreneurship, creativity and the responsible use of technology.
Dr Ncube said learners also needed communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, digital literacy and resilience to compete in an increasingly interconnected world.
“Global success does not mean abandoning our roots. Rather, it means using our local knowledge, resources, and talents to compete and contribute on the international stage. A product developed in a Zimbabwean community can reach international markets.
“A scientific discovery made by a Zimbabwean researcher can help solve a global problem. Therefore, our young people must believe that they can start locally, grow nationally and succeed globally,” he said.
John Tallach High School headmaster Mr Bonakele Ncube said the prize-giving ceremony celebrated learners’ achievements across various disciplines while reinforcing the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and Christian values.
“Our modus operandi is guided by the Word of God and hence our school motto is: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path’ (Psalm 119:105),” he said.
Mr Ncube said the school was embracing the Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC), which promotes entrepreneurship and the development of skills needed to support the country’s aspiration of attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. He said the institution sought to produce well-rounded learners grounded in Ubuntu and equipped to become responsible, patriotic and morally upright citizens.
The school has an enrolment of 620 learners, comprising 309 boys and 311 girls. Of these, 581 are boarders and 35 are day scholars, while four learners are visually impaired.
Mr Ncube said the school had 38 teaching staff members, comprising 20 men and 18 women, with staff drawn from the School Development Committee (SDC), Responsible Authority (RA) and Advanced Design Colleges (ADC).
“We have a united team of well-qualified and professionally trained staff whose performance is par excellence, with zero staff turnover. The ancillary staff complement consists of 17 members, comprising office support staff, dining hall staff and boarding staff,” he said.
He said the school’s Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) and Cambridge examination results continued to be encouraging, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
The school had also received recognition from the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education through the Awards of Excellence in Harare.
Mr Ncube said the Responsible Authority paid examination fees for all Ordinary Level candidates taking Cambridge Bible Knowledge, while parents could pay for additional subjects to enable their children to obtain a full Cambridge certificate.
He said the school followed the HBC syllabuses and offered a wide range of subjects. It had also introduced Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to strengthen learners’ information and communication technology skills, with measures in place to prevent the misuse of digital devices.
On school fees and levies, Mr Ncube commended parents who were meeting their financial obligations and urged those in arrears to honour their payment commitments.
“The RA is heavily subsidising the institution through capital projects and we can only reciprocate and show appreciation for what the RA is doing by being dutiful in paying school fees and the RA levy on time. In 2027, we do not intend to raise the fees,” he said.
He also applauded learners who had excelled in sport, arts and culture, debate and spelling bee competitions, while others had served as Umguza Rural District Council junior councillors.
Mr Ncube said the school’s developments this year included the acquisition of a tractor, construction of the girls’ laundry and ablution facilities, construction of boys’ toilets and a library, installation of a water-heating system, installation of Starlink internet and establishment of a CAD laboratory.
“The dining hall extension is ongoing, there was provision of departmental laptops for teachers and installation of computers in the computer laboratory,” he said.
Future plans include acquiring a modern school bus, constructing a water reservoir, extending A-Level ablution facilities and building a cottage.
However, he said the school continued to face challenges, including defaults on payment plans and vandalism of the water pipeline from the dam.
Friends of Ingwenya Mission (FIM)/SDC chairperson Mrs Nkazimulo Mbizo said the occasion was about more than handing out prizes, as it celebrated hard work, discipline, sacrifice and collaboration among learners, teachers, parents and the wider school community.
“It is a day to celebrate hard work, discipline, sacrifice and partnership. We have gathered to say well done! To our children, thank you, to our teachers and to you parents for your continued support,” she said.
Mrs Mbizo said the SDC had, with the support of parents through levies and contributions, upgraded the girls’ bathrooms, built a new girls’ laundry and constructed boys’ toilets.
“We know the economic environment is difficult and we do not take your contributions for granted. Every dollar you paid is accounted for and we promise to continue with transparency and accountability,” she said.
She congratulated the prize winners and encouraged learners who had not received awards to remain focused and work towards future success.
Mrs Mbizo described education as an invaluable asset that could not be taken away from learners and thanked the headmaster, teachers, ancillary staff, parents and guardians for their continued support.
She urged parents and the school community to maintain their partnership in improving the quality of education, while wishing Form Four and Upper Six learners’ success in their final examinations.
Source: School turns local talent into global success – herald
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