Kutama College

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St Francis Xavier's Kutama College
Kutamafront.jpg
Kutama College
Esse Quam Videri
(To be, rather than to seem / Be what You Are!)
Address
Private Bag 909 Norton
Mashonaland West
Zimbabwe
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Information
Type Catholic Boarding high school
Established 1914
Principal Brother Jacob Mutingwende
Grades Form 1 - Upper Six
Age 12 to 18
Enrollment 1000 - 1200
Color(s)      Blue
     Gold
Yearbook Echo Chronicle
Website kutamacollege.ac.zw/f18/
Classrooms and Administration Block of Kutama College, 1995

Kutama College (officially St Francis Xavier College), is an all-boys high school located near the town of Norton in the Zvimba area, 80 kilometres southwest of the Zimbabwean capital Harare. Kutama has a student population of about 700 pupils, and is considered one of Africa's top 100 high schools (#69 in 2013).[1]

The school moto "Esse Quam Videri" is Latin meaning "to be, rather than to seem". This is interpreted in the school as the more succinct "be what you are", reflecting the school's aim to instill pride in its students. In addition to academic learning, students participate in sports (including soccer, volleyball, basketball, table tennis), chess and (debating. In the seventies, it was one of the only three African schools which played softball together with St. Ignatius and Moleli Secondary School

History

Founded prior to the Second World War by Jesuit Priests, Kutama was one of the first institutions to offer high school education to students of African descent in colonial Rhodesia. Its Jesuit origins are reflected in its official name, St Francis Xavier College. The school is part of Kutama Mission, a Catholic mission originally run by Jesuits but now run by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic order devoted to educational work. The other Marist Brothers schools in Zimbabwe are Marist Brothers Dete, and Nyanga High School There was another multi-racial Marist School, Marist Brothers Que Que based in the then Que Que].

The late Mr James A. Chinamasa, Kutama College Headmaster in the 1990s, with his wife.

The school's first Headmaster was Father Jerome O'Hea, an Irish-born priest after whom the local mission hospital is named. Its most famous Headmaster was James Anthony (affectionately known as "Jachi") Chinamasa, a Kutama College old boy and elder brother of Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa. The present headmaster is Br Bernard Chirombe, who served as deputy headmaster under Mr Stephen Muchenje who retired at the end of 2008. There were other notable Headmasters in the 70s such as Mr Marume whose deputy was Cuthbert Musiiwa a well-known writer in pre Zimbabwe era. This was the period when Kutama was producing very good results and the school staff included former politician Mr Tazvishaya; father of the late Charles Tazvishaya (a former school captain) and Thompson Tsodzo another notable Shona Novelist. Charles Tazvishaya was personal private secretary to Prime Minister Mugabe later after independence.

Houses

Like most high schools in Zimbabwe, which follow the traditional British school system, students at Kutama are divided into four houses each having its own color:

  • Champagnat (azure/blue), named after Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist movement.
  • Chichester (Red)
  • Michael (Green)
  • Patrick (Yellow)
  • Champagnat (Blue)

Admissions

First Year

Most of Kutama′s 700 students enter the school at age 13. All candidates go through a pre-assessment at age 12 (during year 7 of Primary School in Zimbabwean educational terms) by writing an Entrance Examination. The assessment consists of academic tests covering mainly Mathematics and English language which are used as the first screening point. If successful, the candidate will be interviewed, and a report or recommendation will be required from the boy’s current school.[2]

Those offered conditional places must then pass their Grade Seven national examinations to secure their place, or do at least reasonably well in their final mid-term examinations if there are extenuating circumstances for unacceptable performance in the national examinations.

Fifth Year

At age 16 after their Ordinary Level Examinations, the boys are re-selected for continuation to Advanced Level. Sixth form places are not guaranteed for anyone. Admission depends solely on the boy′s performance in his O′ Level examinations and behavioral conduct during the first four years at Kutama.

It should be noted that Sixth Form places will be offered to interested candidates from other schools based on their O′ Level results and recommendation from their previous school.

The entry system is managed by an appointed admissions board on the Head Master′s behalf. The Head Master reserves the right to refuse to admit any boy.

Curriculum

The curriculum at Kutama College is split into 3 blocks of 2 years as follows:

Junior Certificate

Comprising forms one and two, this is the nurturing level in which all the students take part in the same mandatory list of subjects for the purposes of determining their aptitude in the fields of Arts, Commercials and Sciences, namely: Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Accounting, English (Combined Language and Literature), Shona (Combined Language and Literature), French, Computer Studies, Agriculture, and Religious Studies.

Ordinary Level

Having determined their aptitude in the fields of Arts, Commercials and Sciences; Students are split into 3 slightly more specialized class streams corresponding to each of the above-mentioned streams. Note all compulsory subjects are marked with *.

Arts: History*, English Language*, English Literature, Shona*, Mathematics*, Integrated Science, Geography*, Computer Studies*: Computer Applications and Packages, Biology*, Commerce
Commercials: Mathematics*, Accounting, Commerce, Chemistry, Geography*, History*, English Literature, Computer Studies*: Electronic Data Processing, Biology*, Shona*
Sciences: Mathematics*, Physics, Chemistry, Biology*, Geography*, History*, English Language*, Computer Science*: Software Development (Visual BASIC programming), Accounting, Shona*

Advanced Level

This is the highly specialized level, in which in addition to a compulsory subject called English Language and Communication Skills, students pursue a combination of not less than 3 and not more than 6 of the following subjects offered to their field of choice:

Arts: Literature, Divinity, History, Geography
Commercials: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Studies, Geography, Computer Science
Sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Computer Science

Extra-Curricular Program

Sports

  • Soccer
  • Rugby
  • Athletics (Sprint, relay, Cross Country, High jump, long jump, triple jump, hurdles, shot put, javelin, discus)
  • Basketball
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball
  • Tennis
  • Table Tennis
  • Chess

Clubs

  • LEO Club
  • Christian Life Community
  • Quiz
  • Debate and Public Speaking Society
  • Toastmasters Society
  • Church Choir
  • Acapella
  • French Club
  • Drama Club
  • Youth Against Drug Abuse
  • AIDS Awareness Society
  • Commercial Company of Kutama
  • Environmental Awareness
  • Young Scientist
  • Peer Education Club
  • Financial Literacy Club
  • Young farmers club
  • Boost Fellowship club
  • Mferemfe

Kutama Old Boys Association (KOBA)

The Kutama Old Boys Association (KOBA) is one of the oldest 'old boys' associations in Zimbabwe. Established in 1981, KOBA thrives to provide a platform for the alumni of Kutama to play an active role in shaping not only their Alma Mater, but also each other as they pursue different paths in life.[3]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ Africa's Top 100 Schools
  2. ↑ Kutama College website
  3. ↑ kutamaoldboys.org

External links

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