Kadoma’s first elite private school opens its doors

Source: Kadoma’s first elite private school opens its doors -Newsday Zimbabwe

A new elite private school will open its doors to students in Kadoma this month in a major development for the gold rich city’s education sector.

Makseth International School will offer boarding facilities from early education development (ECD) to Grade 7 for both local and foreign students and enrollment is in progress.

Pupils will sit for both the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (Zimsec) and Cambridge Assessment International Education examinations.

Perched on the tranquil Blue Ranges Mountain with good scenic views of the mining city, construction of the school, just four kilometers away from the central business district, is nearing completion and ready to take students.

Part of its distinct infrastructure is a soccer pitch with an artificial turf that was used for training at the December 2022 soccer World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

It holds a special significance as it was previously utilised by renowned players from Argentina, France, England, Senegal, Croatia and Portugal as a small side game training field at Stadium 974 during the last edition of the World Cup.

“We obtained the turf through the 2022 World Cup auction in Doha, and it spans an impressive 2,000 square metres.

“Originally, it was used as an off-field training area at Stadium 974 where esteemed football players such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe held their training sessions,” the school administrator Talent Bako said.

The school’ sports director, Shawn Gathry, is a holder of a degree in sports administration and is a qualified Scottish Football Association coaching license holder.

Gathry is also a member of the PSG soccer academy in Dubai.

The school has erected floodlights to allow students to train at night and prepare them for international matches.

It also has a culture centre for students to appreciate their culture and a massive play centre with modern equipment for games.

Bako said what will make the school unique is its ability to deliver a superb and life changing educational journey for students, unearthing their strengths and developing their resilience to life challenges as well as promoting social-emotional and academic growth.

He said the school’s vision is to be the hallmark of quality education and elite extracurricular activities for students apart from fore fronting an internationally accredited curriculum.

“We teach, empower and inspire our students to reach deep within themselves, unlocking their full potential and God given abilities,” Bako said.

“From experience, we know that students will thrive in an environment where they feel appreciated and cared for. We have developed an effective supportive learning system.”

The school will enroll between 15 and 20 pupils per class for a healthy 1:3 student-teacher ratio that ensures pupils are given adequate individual attention.

“We deliver teaching in a concise, fun, engaging and structured manner that is activity-based and centres on the learner’s mind. Our methods are modern,” Bako said.

“Our focus is shifted away from the teacher and traditional teaching and projected to students, encouraging visualisation, imagination, and thinking.”

Bako added: “We are currently constructing an incredible facility called the Innovation Hub.

“It will feature a library, a computer lab, and an experimental area that is tailor-made to spark curiosity and exploration in the fields of engineering and science.”