Mtshabezi
Located in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe is a boarding based mission school that was founded by the Brethren Church of Christ.
Located in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe is a boarding based mission school that was founded by the Brethren Church of Christ
Background
When some missionaries from the North American Brethren in Christ came into Matabeleland, Zimbabwe in 1904 they opened a girl’s primary school within a year of settling in the country. This was after having built a boy’s primary school in Matopos within just 3months. Pupils were given instruction in basic subjects (reading, arithmetic, etc.) and health and hygiene. The girls were taught home economics, gardening and sewing. Above all, the Bible was central to the educational endeavor.
Gradually the missionaries developed a large primary school system. With financial aid and supervision from the government, the system was staffed by graduates of the Matopo Teacher Training Institute. In the 1950s secondary schools were established in these stations. By 1970 these schools had a student body of 17,116 and a teaching staff of 464. In 1971 the government took over the schools, and from that time the mission has limited education efforts to the primary and secondary schools. These schools in recent years have enrolled an increasing number of students.
Today these schools are run by the Government of Zimbabwe.
