The Province Returns
St Peter’s, Kubatana, grew from a small idea to one of the largest colleges in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Province handed its care over to an independent group, but things went wrong. Now they’re back ... for the time being explains Ray Armstrong.
St Peter’s Kubatana School was started by Fr Ted Rogers in 1963 as a junior secondary school, at a time when secondary education was very limited. The beginning was small, only eight pupils using classrooms in the afternoons, first at St Peter’s Parish primary school in Mbare (that is where the name comes from) and then at Old Morgan School in downtown Harare. After two years the government gave its recognition, but no financial aid. The early teachers were either locals, who gave part-time service, or volunteers who came out from Britain as helpers. They could be given a bit of pocket money, but no proper salaries.
In 1966 the pupil population reached two hundred and the school moved once again. This time it was to a newly built government primary school at Kambuzuma, a developing housing estate at the western edge of the city. There the school grew. Some practical subjects were added to the curriculum and the pupil enrolment increased to almost eight hundred.
In 1973 the government gave notice that the premises would be needed for a new generation of primary school children, as the housing estate had now been completed and was fully occupied.This meant that the whole school would have to move again. At about this time Father Ted Rogers, who had been the sole manager, handed the responsibility over to a board of trustees, which included some Jesuits. A prominent member was Fr ‘Jeep’ Davis, who was given the title and responsibility of Principal. A search was on for new premises and the present site was obtained. It’s situated between the high-density suburbs of Highfield and Glen Norah; a better sight could not have been found - either then or now. The school is immediately surrounded by six Catholic parishes and is only a mile away from a major crossroads which brings traffic from all directions, including Kambuzuma.
The new grounds contained the remains of a large farm and Father ‘Jeep’ Davis - in the few months available before the opening - managed to convert the old tobacco barns into classrooms. Everything was ready enough for the school to begin another new life in early 1974.
Now that the school owned its own ground, development could steam ahead. In 1975 a technical branch was established to teach school leavers a variety of practical trades. Total enrolment rose to one thousand two hundred. What was also important was that the government began to take an interest and incorporated the school into its aided system. This meant that the teachers’ salaries were paid by the state, leaving more money for the rest of the work.
With great help from donors in such places as Germany, and our own readers of Jesuits and Friends, an immense construction programme started. Professional builders were engaged, but most of the work was done by the trade students and school pupils. Under the general supervision of Father Davis the present fine, solid buildings were completed. Little did the builders know, that these same buildings would have to house nearly four thousand pupils, when the civil war for liberation caused three mission boarding schools to move to St Peter’s, Kubatana for refuge.
When the war ended, and independence came, in 1980, the new government started to take special interest in the two schools. The secondary section was given the status of a high school - the technical branch of the Vocational Training School.
At the end of 1989, Father Davis retired with a great send-off. In his place came Brother Dominic Shoniwa as leader of a four-member management team. This group worked under the direction of a board of trustees. This board still included the Jesuit Provincial, Father Rogers and some other Jesuits. Finally, with everything in good order, the Jesuits withdrew from the school, handing it over to a new, independent board consisting of local notables. Unfortunately, this board proved to be inefficient and the school plunged into a slow, but steady, decline. The buildings became shabby, broken furniture wasn’t repaired, worn out equipment and books were not replaced and - most importantly - teachers became demoralised.
So the Jesuits are back! Brother Dominic is, once again Principal and Fr Ray Armstrong is Chaplain (with a little teaching on the side). Moreover, a competent board of governors has been formed under Jesuit leadership. There is no change in location this time, but 2004 (in our Southern Hemisphere the school year begins in January) sees St Peter’s School, Kubatana, enthusiastically facing the future.
The Vocational Training School has three hundred students, plus a full staff of lecturers and demonstrators. It offers courses in fitting and turning, motor mechanics, auto electrics, building, and wood technology.
The High School takes boys and girls from form 1 to form 6, and from form 4 becomes comprehensive, has over a thousand pupils. It offers a wide variety of subjects within the academic, business and practical fields. The buildings are returning to their former glory and the staff are fully qualified and competent. However, not everything is perfect and there are some problems that need addressing.
These difficulties arise from the previous board of trustees who bankrupted the whole venture. Many of the classrooms have doors missing and there are only six hundred chairs for one thousand pupils. When one class leaves its room for another part of the building children from other rooms come and take the chairs. When the group return they spend ages trying to find the missing chairs. Not an ideal situation to teach in. In the English department there is only one book for every five students; for other subjects there are no books at all. Most of the time the teacher has to write down the lessons on the blackboard as he is the only one with a book. What a terrible waste of time!
Can’t the school buy some books? Can’t the pupils buy their own books, you ask? The answer is a double NO! The fees charged have to be so low, that they can only cover minimal charges such as water and electricity bills, plus the wages of a few necessary workers. Most parents, or guardians, having struggled to pay the fees couldn’t manage the cost of books as well. The cost of one maths book is more than the fees for a whole term.
St Peter’s Kubatana School, despite many changes, has never forgotten its original purpose - to provide schooling for children who, without it, would be deprived of secondary education. No child who applies is ever rejected. Experience has taught us that some seemingly hopeless cases can do well when they reach the adult world. However disadvantaged in other ways, a person who has acquired sound religious and moral principles will be a success. Our school, though disadvantaged by surrounding poverty, manages to import these principles.
St Peter’s Kubatana School was started by Fr Ted Rogers in 1963 as a junior secondary school, at a time when secondary education was very limited. The beginning was small, only eight pupils using classrooms in the afternoons, first at St Peter’s Parish primary school in Mbare (that is where the name comes from) and then at Old Morgan School in downtown Harare. After two years the government gave its recognition, but no financial aid. The early teachers were either locals, who gave part-time service, or volunteers who came out from Britain as helpers. They could be given a bit of pocket money, but no proper salaries.
In 1966 the pupil population reached two hundred and the school moved once again. This time it was to a newly built government primary school at Kambuzuma, a developing housing estate at the western edge of the city. There the school grew. Some practical subjects were added to the curriculum and the pupil enrolment increased to almost eight hundred.
In 1973 the government gave notice that the premises would be needed for a new generation of primary school children, as the housing estate had now been completed and was fully occupied.This meant that the whole school would have to move again. At about this time Father Ted Rogers, who had been the sole manager, handed the responsibility over to a board of trustees, which included some Jesuits. A prominent member was Fr ‘Jeep’ Davis, who was given the title and responsibility of Principal. A search was on for new premises and the present site was obtained. It’s situated between the high-density suburbs of Highfield and Glen Norah; a better sight could not have been found - either then or now. The school is immediately surrounded by six Catholic parishes and is only a mile away from a major crossroads which brings traffic from all directions, including Kambuzuma.
The new grounds contained the remains of a large farm and Father ‘Jeep’ Davis - in the few months available before the opening - managed to convert the old tobacco barns into classrooms. Everything was ready enough for the school to begin another new life in early 1974.
Now that the school owned its own ground, development could steam ahead. In 1975 a technical branch was established to teach school leavers a variety of practical trades. Total enrolment rose to one thousand two hundred. What was also important was that the government began to take an interest and incorporated the school into its aided system. This meant that the teachers’ salaries were paid by the state, leaving more money for the rest of the work.
With great help from donors in such places as Germany, and our own readers of Jesuits and Friends, an immense construction programme started. Professional builders were engaged, but most of the work was done by the trade students and school pupils. Under the general supervision of Father Davis the present fine, solid buildings were completed. Little did the builders know, that these same buildings would have to house nearly four thousand pupils, when the civil war for liberation caused three mission boarding schools to move to St Peter’s, Kubatana for refuge.
When the war ended, and independence came, in 1980, the new government started to take special interest in the two schools. The secondary section was given the status of a high school - the technical branch of the Vocational Training School.
At the end of 1989, Father Davis retired with a great send-off. In his place came Brother Dominic Shoniwa as leader of a four-member management team. This group worked under the direction of a board of trustees. This board still included the Jesuit Provincial, Father Rogers and some other Jesuits. Finally, with everything in good order, the Jesuits withdrew from the school, handing it over to a new, independent board consisting of local notables. Unfortunately, this board proved to be inefficient and the school plunged into a slow, but steady, decline. The buildings became shabby, broken furniture wasn’t repaired, worn out equipment and books were not replaced and - most importantly - teachers became demoralised.
So the Jesuits are back! Brother Dominic is, once again Principal and Fr Ray Armstrong is Chaplain (with a little teaching on the side). Moreover, a competent board of governors has been formed under Jesuit leadership. There is no change in location this time, but 2004 (in our Southern Hemisphere the school year begins in January) sees St Peter’s School, Kubatana, enthusiastically facing the future.
The Vocational Training School has three hundred students, plus a full staff of lecturers and demonstrators. It offers courses in fitting and turning, motor mechanics, auto electrics, building, and wood technology.
The High School takes boys and girls from form 1 to form 6, and from form 4 becomes comprehensive, has over a thousand pupils. It offers a wide variety of subjects within the academic, business and practical fields. The buildings are returning to their former glory and the staff are fully qualified and competent. However, not everything is perfect and there are some problems that need addressing.
These difficulties arise from the previous board of trustees who bankrupted the whole venture. Many of the classrooms have doors missing and there are only six hundred chairs for one thousand pupils. When one class leaves its room for another part of the building children from other rooms come and take the chairs. When the group return they spend ages trying to find the missing chairs. Not an ideal situation to teach in. In the English department there is only one book for every five students; for other subjects there are no books at all. Most of the time the teacher has to write down the lessons on the blackboard as he is the only one with a book. What a terrible waste of time!
Can’t the school buy some books? Can’t the pupils buy their own books, you ask? The answer is a double NO! The fees charged have to be so low, that they can only cover minimal charges such as water and electricity bills, plus the wages of a few necessary workers. Most parents, or guardians, having struggled to pay the fees couldn’t manage the cost of books as well. The cost of one maths book is more than the fees for a whole term.
St Peter’s Kubatana School, despite many changes, has never forgotten its original purpose - to provide schooling for children who, without it, would be deprived of secondary education. No child who applies is ever rejected. Experience has taught us that some seemingly hopeless cases can do well when they reach the adult world. However disadvantaged in other ways, a person who has acquired sound religious and moral principles will be a success. Our school, though disadvantaged by surrounding poverty, manages to import these principles.