A few mission schools in Zimbabwe have earned such a stellar reputation that they are often referred to as ‘academic factories.’
Among these, Kriste Mambo and St. Faith’s Secondary stand out for their exceptional academic performance and stringent admission standards.
According to Zimpricecheck, the fees for advanced-level education at these renowned schools are surprisingly reasonable.
Kriste Mambo’s term fee is approximately US$520, and St. Faith’s Secondary’s is about US$630. This affordability offers hope to many families, although it comes with certain prerequisites.
What It Costs to Be Famous
Kriste Mambo, for example, expects nothing less than perfect grades:
Twelve A grades or higher for kids who want to go into science.
9A scores for people who like commercials.
5 A grades for candidates in the arts.
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With such high standards and a nearly perfect track record of 100% A-Level pass rates, these schools are the holy goal for students and parents who want to do well in school. But some people say the bar is too high and most students can’t reach it. This is especially true for students from poor families who might not have had the same means.
The Backlash on Social Media
As news of these stringent admission standards spread, social media became a platform for diverse opinions and reactions, engaging people in a lively debate.
When asked about the focus on schoolwork, Mangwiro Zimhondi said, “Academics is not everything.”
In a more difficult speech, Tony Dube said that schools should show how good they are at teaching by taking in less talented students:
“To show kuti vanogona kudzidzisa, Salvatore fascina kaupapa and make them A students.”
Montana spoke up, he was blunt:
“They don’t want to do the work.”
Bushmaster brought up the law issues with the strict requirements and said,
“Those strict requirements should be done away with.”
Leaving a Contentious Legacy
The question remains: Should schools like Kriste Mambo and St. Faith’s keep prioritizing quality over accessibility?
Their strict admissions process ensures that only the smartest and most responsible students get in, but some critics say that it goes against the whole point of education, which is to give everyone a chance.
Reform supporters think the schools’ good academic records should be praised, but what would be even more impressive is if they could turn average students into excellent ones.
Getting a Balance
The argument is still ongoing, but it’s clear that these “academic factories” are an important part of Zimbabwe’s education system.
Some people see them as signs of hope, status, and chance. For others, they show how unequal things are in the country as a whole.
One thing is for sure: Kriste Mambo and St. Faith’s are not just schools; they are organisations that attract both praise and criticism, starting conversations about what education is really for.
