Mpilo Tops National Exams as 2,600 Nurses Graduate

Mpilo School of Nursing led Zimbabwe’s 2025 national nursing exams as 2,600 nurses graduated in Bulawayo (image source)

BULAWAYO — Mpilo School of Nursing has emerged as Zimbabwe’s top-performing institution in this year’s national nursing examinations, leading a cohort of 2,600 trainee nurses who were formally certified at a graduation ceremony held in Bulawayo on Friday. Education authorities confirmed that Mpilo achieved the highest aggregate pass rate among all nursing colleges, a success attributed to the school’s intensified clinical placement programme, revised practical assessments, and targeted mentorship during final-term training.

The graduates include general nurses, midwives, and psychiatric nursing qualifiers, all of whom are now cleared for registration with the Nursing Council — paving the way for immediate deployment into hospitals and clinics nationwide. Health ministry officials said the influx of newly qualified nurses will help alleviate staffing shortages at primary and secondary care levels, especially in rural districts where vacancy rates remain high. Hospital administrators praised the graduates’ hands-on training approach, noting that extended supervised rotations and mentorship at district hospitals have produced more confident, patient-ready professionals.

Despite the academic success, experts warned that retention remains the sector’s biggest challenge. Many trained nurses continue to leave for neighbouring countries or private facilities due to better pay and working conditions. Analysts urged the government to introduce stronger incentive packages, improve rural housing, and expand professional development opportunities to keep skilled personnel in public service.

Training institutions also called for increased investment in medical equipment and supplies to support new graduates entering under-resourced facilities. Clinic managers in Matabeleland North reported that shortages of basic consumables can undermine service delivery and morale. Private sector representatives pledged to absorb some graduates through community health programmes and suggested public-private partnerships to strengthen rural outreach. The Nursing Council, meanwhile, committed to speeding up registration and licensing to prevent administrative delays in deployment.

Policy experts concluded that the strong results at Mpilo demonstrate the effectiveness of practical-first nursing education, recommending that similar models be scaled nationally through expanded clinical placements, improved tutor-to-student ratios, and stronger collaboration between training colleges and district hospitals. Mpilo School of Nursing led Zimbabwe’s 2025 national nursing exams as 2,600 nurses graduated in Bulawayo (image source)

“We celebrate the pass rates, but the real test is keeping these nurses where communities need them most,” a provincial health official said.