A BRIEF HISTORY OF KYLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

In the early eighties a number of young parents held numerous informal discussions about the idea of a private school for Masvingo. At that time there was general dissatisfaction with the sudden huge enrolment at the group A schools and the resulting large classes.

Rob Richards, later to become the first chairman of the Board of Governors, built a couple of classrooms in his backyard, appointed a qualified and well-respected teacher and a little school for a few local children was started. This little private school was the forerunner of Kyle School.

A steering committee under the leadership of Rob Richards kept themselves busy with planning during 1986. Inputs from a wide cross-section of local parents were dealt with. Ian McGregor, a former lecturer at Morgenster Teachers’ College, joined the committee as “consultant.” This committee continued with regular communication with Education officials and local politicians.

In 1987 a constitution was drawn up by Vincent Davy, lawyer and also first Secretary-to-be of Kyle School Trust which was formalised in May 1987 with Chairman Mr. R.J. Richards.
Discussions with Senator Dzikamai Mavhaire, the late Edison Zvobgo and mayor Mr. Partson Muzvidziwa as well as other prominent figures resulted in approval for the registration of the school being granted on 1• September 1987.

From then on it was all systems go! The unused Coronet Drive-in theatre on the Copota Road was bought for the princely sum of$ 35 000.00. The projectors and speakers were later sold for $ 20 000.00.
A prospective-parents meeting was held in the Charles Austin Theatre and 120 people attended. The enthusiasm at this meeting was infectious.

The contractors moved on site on 10 October 1987 to build the first eight classrooms. Two more blocks of four classrooms each were built in the next three years.

The first year saw 118 pupils enrolled with headmaster Mr. McGregor and teachers Mrs. Pam Burl, Mrs. Janet Walker, Mrs. Sheila Chitate, Mr. Sibisi, Mrs. Martha Percival, Mrs. Chookie Evans and Mr. Chandengenda, the Shona teacher. Mrs. Harrison was the first pre-school teacher (in the renovated domestic quarters) while Mrs. Louise Howis was the first secretary. The opening assembly on 12 January 1988 was attended by the Masvingo Mayor, the Regional Director of Education, the Provincial Administrator and numerous other local dignitaries. The official opening of the school was conducted by Senator Dzikamai Mavhaire on 11 March 1988.

With custom-made furniture and ample imported books, the school got off to a smooth start. Kyle was a small community school for locals.

To increase enrolment and to make provision for children from surrounding mining and farming Communities, a small, temporary hostel at 92 McGhie Avenue, was opened in January 1989. The large house was occupied by thirteen children with Mrs. Anna Edwards as matron.

Because of the demand for hostel places, a very large house and its outbuildings on the outskirts of Masvingo was leased for three years and converted into a very functional hostel. Transport to and from school was provided by A.A. Mines of Mashava. This hostel in the suburbs of Clovelly was to remain in use from 1990 to the end of 1992.

During 1992 construction of state of the ‘lrt hostels on the school premises began. Simultaneously the construction of a competition swimming pool was started. The new hostels, with space for 80 children, were first occupied at the beginning of 1993. Rio Tinto provided the pre-fabricated dining hall and kitchen facilities as well as a teachers’ cottage for supervising staff. A superintendent’s house was built in 1997.

While all the construction projects were on-going, the sportsfields and pavilion were developed and lots of attention was given to planting of trees and landscaping of the school surroundings. The driving force behind all these developments was again Rob Richards with great support from the Board members and their wives.

From the outset the policy was to provide top-quality education, comparable to that of the leading primary schools in the country. “Primary school learning must be fun and no child must fear coming to school. Discipline should be based on routine and should always be gentle,” was the introduction to the original statement. 

The first three years were very lean as far as successes on the sport field were concerned. With the arrival of Mr. Tex Harding, deputy head in charge of sport, matters started to improve until Kyle became a force to be reckoned with. Over the years the school has produced a steady flow of provincial representatives as well as two national representatives, one in rugby and one in cricket.

On the cultural front Kyle has always held its own. From 1990 a major theatrical production, usually a musical, has been produced annually. An Easter concert has traditionally been held in the Dutch Reformed Church while in 1988 and 1989 lunchtime concerts were held in the Charles Austin Theatre. A piano pupils’ concert is held annually while the infants’ department has also produced an annual concert.

Regular excursions to places of interest have always been an important part of the curriculum while great emphasis has been placed on nature conservation. “Outward Bound” courses have become very popular over the last few years.

Cultural groups, choirs, youth orchestras and even the internationally acclaimed Drakensberg Boys’ Choir have been hosted by Kyle over the years. Kyle organised the nation-wide tour of the Kimberley Youth Orchestra in 2000. The educational benefits of these visits can never be over-estimated.