Dedza Secondary School alumni, in partnership with Sapere Aude, have awarded outstanding teachers and students in the school’s top six best-performing subjects. Additionally, 43 students who scored between 9 and 12 points qualified for the prestigious 2024 Glamours Degoss Award.
The award ceremony was held at the Dedza Secondary School Hall.
Haswell Solomon, President of the Dedza Secondary School Alumni Association, highlighted the positive impact of the program, which has been running for eight years.
“As alumni and Sapere Aude, our goal is to maintain Dedza Secondary School as a leading institution. This year alone, 143 students were selected to public universities,” said Solomon.
He added that out of 163 students who sat for national exams in 2024, 162 passed, resulting in a remarkable 99.9% pass rate, despite various challenges.
Headteacher Ramzy Stephano praised the alumni initiative, stating that student and teacher motivation has improved significantly since the awards program began.
“The hard work of teachers and students is the driving force behind our success. I commend the alumni and Sapere Aude and urge them to continue supporting the school,” said Stephano.
However, Stephano appealed to the government to address infrastructure issues, particularly the poor road network that becomes impassable during the rainy season.
“It is our vision to keep improving. Next year, we hope to send even more than 143 students to public universities,” he added.
Guest of honor and PTA Chairperson Nobert Chamvula emphasized the importance of cooperation between parents, teachers, and students in sustaining academic excellence.
“Parents must play their part at home. Discipline starts there. Students also need to build good relationships with their teachers—that’s the secret,” said Chamvula.
The alumni and Sapere Aude raised approximately 12 million Malawi Kwacha to support this year’s awards.
