Association of Trust Schools

The Association of Trust Schools (ATS) is an organisation of independent primary and secondary schools in Zimbabwe that was founded in 1962. Each of these schools are run by their own Board of Governors and are not for profit entities. The Heads of ATS schools are eligible for membership in the Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe (CHISZ).[1] There are 66 schools in the ATS.[2][3]

Association of Trust Schools
AbbreviationATS
Formation19 October 1962 (1962-10-19)
TypeNGO
PurposeEducational accreditation
Region served
Zimbabwe
Membership
66 schools
Executive Director
Tim Middleton
AffiliationsCHISZ
Websitewww.atschisz.co.zw
Formerly called
Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools in Rhodesia and Nyasaland

History

In 1962 CHISZ was formed with nine member headmasters: those of Arundel, Bishopslea, Chisipite, Eagle, Falcon, Peterhouse, St. Peter's, Springvale, Whitestone and Bernard Mizeki College.[2] Their purpose was mutual support and encouragement. By the mid-1970s, twenty-four schools attended the Conference. A dip then followed leading up to independence with only nine members attending in 1981. However, the Independence War years had led to a number of member schools closing down, including two of its founder members (Eagle and St. Peter’s), while two other founder member schools closed but did re-open (Whitestone and Springvale).[2] Gateway was founded in 1983 and joined ATS in 2000. Becoming the most important.

When government schools opened up to multi-racial classes post-independence, those people who had turned to independent schools chose government schools rather than high fee-paying independent schools as what they were being offered was much the same. However, by 1983, the demand for independent schools had gained pace again – many more new schools were founded, nearly all co-educational schools, while nearly all the founding members of CHISZ had been single-sex schools. In 1983 six new independent schools were started; from 1983 to 1986 nineteen more were founded.[2]

Member schools have received criticism from parents and Zimbabwe government Minister of Education Lazarus Dokora for charging illegally excessive non-refundable acceptance fees and increasing tuition despite "atrocious" academic results.[4][5]

In 2015, sixty-six schools are members of the ATS, with twenty-four at Secondary level and forty-two at Primary with over 23,000 students enrolled and over 800 teachers employed.[2]

EXCO

EXCO is the Standing Committee of ATS, made up of members of the Conference, elected annually by the members at the AGM.[6]

List of EXCO Chairs

  • Sir Robert Tredgold (1962 – 1968)
  • Bob Williams (1969 – 1974)
  • Ken Wilson (1975 – 1976)
  • Bob Williams (1977 – 1981)
  • Dr. Ian MacDonald (1981 – 1982)
  • Bob Williams (1982 – 1983)
  • Dick Turpin (1983 – 1986)
  • Mike Routledge (1986 – 1987)
  • Rev. Griffiths Malaba (1987 – 1992)
  • Douglas Sagonda (1992 – 1994)
  • Stuart Mattinson (1994 – 1997)
  • Ant Manning (1997 – 2000)
  • David Long (2001 – 2004)
  • Jameson Timba (2004 – 2006)
  • Mike Manga (2009 – 2010)
  • Abe Gatsi (2011 – present)

[6]

List of ATS member schools

Primary schools

Secondary schools

See also

  • Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe

References

  1. "ATS CHISZ". ATS CHISZ. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  2. "ATS CHISZ » HISTORY". ATS CHISZ. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. "Association of Trust Schools". Pindula. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  4. "Dokora's audit must extend to private schools - The Zimbabwe Independent". The Zimbabwe Independent. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  5. "Trust schools demand shocking acceptance fees". The Financial Gazette. May 15, 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  6. "ATS CHISZ » EXCO". ATS CHISZ. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  7. "ATS CHISZ Primary » » Schools Directory". ATS CHISZ. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  8. "ATS CHISZ Primary » » Schools Directory". ATS CHISZ. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  9. "ATS CHISZ Senior » » Schools Directory". ATS CHISZ. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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