Zim Eye
By Walter Sebele
22 October 2013
Parents at Cyrene high school have threatened to take drastic measures against the headmaster of the school amid revelations that he sent packing all O’and A’ level candidates owing the institution.
In an interview with this publication, disgruntled parents who were baying for the headmasters blood revealed with disgust how the institution had expelled only students who are sitting for their examinations on Friday saying the move was an ill-timed one that would however come back to haunt not only the expelled students but also the calibre and degree of the pass rate for the entire Matabeleland region.
“Surely we wonder how they think we would be able to raise all that money at once. It is not that we do not want to pay but all we are saying is that we agreed with the institution that we pay the fees in installments at the beginning of the term as we were in shock to realise that our children who are supposed to be putting final touches to their revision for the examinations arrived at home yesterday (Monday) after being sent to collect the fees,†said a concerned parent.
“This is not fair, my child owes $50 but these teachers are being arrogant. I think there is a need for us to talk about this when we go for meetings. I think we should mobilise ourselves as parents and go to the meetings to challenge this.
Imagine what impact that is going to have if our children fail, that will have a drastic effect on the overall pass rate of the Matabeleland region and will forever haunt us. We are trying so much by paying for extra lessons for our children so as to improve their grades but just at the end of the journey, when they are supposed to be putting final touches and gaining composure ahead of the exams on Friday, the Headmaster pulls such a careless stunt. †said another parent.
In an interview, Cyrene headmaster Mr Bhebhe said he had no option but to expel the students as the school needed the money to run day to day programs.
“Yes you people can be quick to point fingers to us as the school leadership but have you ever considered that the school also needs to function? How do we function without the students paying their fees?†said the Head.
Former Minister of Education, David Coltart is on record as saying that there was nothing that the government could do about schools that expelled owing students as there is no tangible policy barring them from doing that.
“Policies vary between schools and most of the schools doing that are privately owned boarding schools and Government’s interference is limited. You would find that schools require funds to operate and because of the environment we are in, their only source of money are parents. The problem is when they start demanding full payment upfront which would infringe on the right of the child to access education.
“The $5 million that was allocated to the ministry by Treasury to cover non-salary expenses is too little and as long as that situation remains there is going to be a problem. Schools cannot be allowed to collapse but at the same time we would want to urge parents to make education a priority and pay fees on time or make payment plans with the schools,†said Minister Coltart.