Matabeleland North had the worst Grade 7 pass rate in the 2021 Grade 7 results, with 51 schools failing to pass a single student, government data shows.
Amazingly, the ministry of primary and secondary education says this was an improvement on the previous year when 85 schools recorded a zero percent pass rate.
A pupil must record six units and below to be considered to have passed, while seven and over is a fail.
The overall pass rate in the province was 38.48 percent, just below the national average of 41.3 percent.
Matabeleland North covers areas such as Nyamandlovu, Umguza, Bubi, Nkayi, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Binga, Victoria Falls and Hwange.
The ministry of primary and secondary education says the worst performing schools were in Bubi, where 14 had no pupils passing. Lupane was the second worst performer with 13.
Taungana Ndoro, the spokesman for the primary and secondary education ministry said: “We are encouraged by the increased pass rate in Matabeleland North province and going forward we envisage further improvement.”