BUSE Launches Science High School

Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has taken a bold step toward realizing Zimbabwe’s vision of fostering innovation and research expertise by establishing the country’s first-ever high school dedicated solely to science subjects.

“We are not only grooming content mastering students but students who will have innovative quality traits, critical thinking, problem-solving techniques, creativeness, science-oriented and ethical wholesome students,” declared Dr. Gracious Zinyeka, the school’s principal.

Open to Advanced Level students for US$450 per term, the BUSE model high school offers both boarding and day school options. Students can delve into subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Computer Science, with plans to introduce junior classes next year.

“We have science laboratories, highly qualified science teachers and quality classrooms,” Dr. Zinyeka emphasized, highlighting the school’s commitment to providing a stimulating and well-equipped learning environment.

Enrollment is already underway, with at least 30 students registered as of Thursday. The application fee is US$20, and the school even boasts a dedicated medical facility for student well-being.

Dr. Edison Mudzamiri, Acting Chairperson of the Science and Maths Education Department at BUSE, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative. “We are a seasoned team and are ready to work with the students in creating a better innovative environment,” he stated.

The high school currently follows the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council syllabus, with plans to introduce the Cambridge curriculum in the future. Dr Zinyeka assured parents that discipline would be a priority, stating, “The school will resemble a normal high school concerning children’s discipline.” He clarified that while students will share hostel apartments, there will be no interaction with university students.

BUSE seeks students with potential, not just top scorers. 

“We believe that for a doctor to be credited for good work he would have helped a seriously ill person, not someone who is already fit,” Dr. Zinyeka explained. “We want everyone who passed their Ordinary Level. We will mould them into innovative scientists.”

To distinguish themselves, high school students will wear designated uniforms.

Acting provincial education director Dr Themba Mangwiro lauded BUSE’s initiative and urged other universities to follow suit. He pointed out the province’s critical shortage of schools, particularly secondary schools offering STEM subjects, alongside a deficit of science teachers, especially in rural areas.

This groundbreaking move by BUSE aligns with Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Torerai Moyo’s call for private sector involvement in bolstering the country’s educational infrastructure, particularly in STEM fields. 

With its focus on nurturing future innovators and researchers, BUSE’s model high school has the potential to be a game-changer for Zimbabwe’s educational landscape.