THE National Schools Excellence Awards have received more than 160 nominations for several awards that would be dished out of six categories during the inaugural awards ceremony to be held in March.
The awards, the first of its kind in the country, are meant to celebrate outstanding achievements in the country's education sector.
A call for nominations has been made and the organisers, National Excellence Enterprise, have confirmed receiving overwhelming responses.
National Excellence Enterprise president Johannes Marisa said the nominations are overwhelming considering this is the maiden edition.
“We have so far received 160 nominees and we are pushing for more,” Marisa said.
“We are still open for nominations and this can be done by reaching out to us through these mobile phone numbers 0719 485 900 or 0772 859 391 and e-mail address nationalexcellenceenterprise@gmail.com.”
Marisa said more details are available on the organisers’ website www.nationalschoolexcellenceawards.co.zw
“The nominations are overwhelming and we did not think people would respond like this. We hope this is a sign the awards would be a great success.”
Categories up for grabs include schools with exceptional academic achievements and passing rates; institutions offering world-class education such as Cambridge curriculum as well as schools with outstanding infrastructure and facilities.
Directors, principals and teachers demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication; students achieving academic exercise and innovation as well as schools prioritising hygiene, safety and well-being would be rewarded as well.
National Excellence Enterprise secretary Tatenda Mutsengi said the awards seek to promote a culture of excellence in education, encourage healthy competition among schools, and inspire educators and students to strive for greatness.
“We believe that by celebrating outstanding achievements in education, we can motivate schools to improve their standards, and ultimately, contribute to the development of a more educated and skilled workforce and also reduce the rate of brain drain.
“We are now calling for nominations from the public, schools, and organisations. If you know of a school that excels in academic performance, has outstanding infrastructure, or demonstrates exceptional leadership, we encourage you to nominate them.”
Mutsengi said nominations can also be made for individual educators, students, or science projects that have made a significant impact.
He said the National Schools Excellence Awards will be presented at a ceremony, where winners will receive recognition and rewards for their outstanding achievements.