By Phillip Pasula
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Katoto Secondary School is the champion of the inaugural Mzuzu City’s Malawi Secondary School Headteachers Association (MASSHA) Quiz Competition after triumphing over Mzuzu Government Secondary School and Luwinga Secondary School in a thrilling tripartite final that took place at Chibavi Community Day Secondary School Hall on Friday.
The competition started from three clusters of the Mzuzu City Education district namely Luwinga, Katoto, and Mzuzu Government.
In the Luwinga Cluster, Luwinga Secondary School defeated Nkhorongo Community Day Secondary School and Chibavi Community Day Secondary School on their way to the finals. At the same time, Katoto Secondary School eliminated Masasa Community Day Secondary School and Chasefu Adventist Secondary School, among others.
Mzuzu Government Secondary School first beat Marymount Girls Catholic Secondary and Zolozolo Community Day Secondary School in the tripartite contest before overcoming Moyale Barracks Community Day Secondary School at the cluster level.
As was the case in all contests at the cluster level, the three teams in the finals were quizzed in six rounds namely English, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Agriculture and Biology, History and Geography as well as Financial Literacy.
At the end of it all, Luwinga Secondary School finished the contest with 22 points. Mzuzu Government Secondary School amassed 32 points as runners-up while winners Katoto Secondary School had 33 points, just one above the runners-up.
The three teams went away with K100,000.00, K75,000.00, and K50,000.00, respectively from first to third position.
Speaking to Maravi Post on behalf of Mzuzu City MASSHA President, and Headteacher for Zolozolo Community Day Secondary School, Derick Chitete, said the competition in the city was necessary for achieving academic excellence among students.
“Mzuzu City Education District was number one nationwide in last year’s Malawi School Certificate of Education Examinations. Quiz is one of the activities we have lined up, which can help us achieve and maintain our position. We hope that quizzes and many other activities will help our learners to keep working hard so that they do well academically,” said Chitete.
Deputy Headteacher for the winning Katoto Secondary School, Tuntufye Lwesha, said students at his school were hardworking.
“This is a very welcome development by Mzuzu City MASSHA. If schools can do well at the district level, they will be eager to do well at the divisional level and eventually at the national level,” added Lwesha.
Senior team member for the winning Katoto Secondary School, Hope Gondwe, said it felt so good to be inaugural champions.
“I never thought we would emerge champions but we made it because we have been studying hard from the word go from cluster level. I hope that Katoto Secondary School will defend the championship next year though I will not be part of the team,” remarked Gondwe.
Mzuzu City MASSHA says the competition has come to stay and students should expect better prizes next year as it is talking to potential sponsors.