St Theresa was built in the 1960s as a teachers training college before being turned into a day secondary school after independence in 1983.
The boarders started lessons on Tuesday. At least 50 students have been enrolled. Fees are pegged at $500 per term.
The District Schools Inspector (DSI) for Makoni, Mr Arkim Jiji, confirmed the development, describing it as a positive step in the institution regaining its original status.
Mr Jiji said all wings of the school should work together in establishing high educational standards.
He appealed to the community to be patient at this transformative phase, arguing that the benefits that come with it would pay off in the long term.
Mr Jiji also said the number of leaders and successful members of society began their journey at a private school and these include athletes, successful businesspeople and politicians and the rural students should make the best out of the opportunity.
“I am happy for the school and the local community for embracing such a brilliant idea. To the students, I want to say that the ideal boarding school student is one who wants to embrace this huge opportunity they have been afforded – that is to live in a community where learning, personal growth and exploration are top priority; where programs and activities are abundant; where making friends is paramount and where success is celebrated.
“By virtue of this initiative, St Theresa becomes a national school that recruits across the country, but I want to warn the administration to always look back from where you are coming from by preserving a quota for the local day students through whose sweat you were able to attain this dream,” said Mr Jiji.
The Member of House of Assembly for Makoni West, Cde Kudzi Chipanga, who toured the school last week, urged the teachers and students to leave their mark academically.
Cde Chipanga said a positive academic tradition and history drive the character of each school and influence each student who goes there.
“The shared experience of this tradition and history creates a strong network of people and a feeling of community that lasts for life. There should be no compromise in the quality of the learning environment and the results at the end of the year,” said the youthful legislator.
“As a boarding school, St Theresa should have an explicit mission, not only to educate students in the classroom, but to also help them become better-rounded and globally informed individuals. We expect academics at boarding schools to operate at high standards and push their students to become inquisitive and tackle challenging problems,” added Cde Chipanga.
Parents expressed optimism at the boarding will translate into better academic fortunes for their children given the quality of student resources such as the library, technological and theatre facilities and athletic complexes.
The school head, Mrs Euphrasia Mudiwa, applauded the School Development Committee, the church and parents for working together in making the dream come true.
Mrs Mudiwa said the boarding school for boys would open next year.
“We will introduce the boys’ wing next year and in the meanwhile, we are appealing for financial and material donations towards the construction of dormitories, additional bathrooms, a dining hall and a computer lab,” said Mrs Mudiwa. manica post