Constance Chigwamba, said corruption by school heads was a serious scourge that could affect the whole educational sector if not curtailed.
Chigwamba was speaking at the consecration of the Secretary’s Bell to Vengere Primary School in Rusape last week.
“My ministry is fighting against the scourge by identifying the bad apples. We are investigating several school heads, among them Rusape’s John Cowie Primary headmaster, for allegedly defrauding their respective learning institutions of thousands of dollars in tuition fees and development levies,” she said.
She added that the probe was part of a government blitz on corrupt school authorities.
The headmaster, Chekufa Zonke, was arrested last week and was on Monday granted $100 bail by a Rusape magistrate, for allegedly prejudicing the school of $3,760. He allegedly shared the money with his subordinates.
“Cases of school heads looting school funds are on the increase and my ministry will not hesitate to crack the whip. All heads are reminded to handle financial resources and follow the correct financial procedures. Misappropriation of public funds is a gross act of misconduct,” added Chigwamba.
She said mismanagement of school funds dominated most of their disciplinary cases.
“Mismanagement of funds is topping the disciplinary cases we are handling. All public funds are subject to auditing be it civic day, sports day and levies that the school had collected. School funds are not for personal enrichment, and therefore I’m warming you to desist from the habit of putting your hands on public funds,” warned Chigwamba.
Post published in: News