Last month three children who were engaged in an out of school fist fight were allegedly forced by the headmaster to mould 5,000 bricks, dig up an ant-hill and pay a $10 fine. They were reportedly given the option of immediate dismissal from the school if they were not comfortable with the punishment.
Parents of the children offered to mould the bricks on behalf of the children. The headmaster grudgingly accepted the offer but insisted the children had to dig up the ant-hill on their own for them to appreciate the consequences of their misconduct.
“Angry parents and the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust challenged the headmaster as we believe the punishment amounted to gross child abuse,” said a parent, Jennifer Mhere.
The headmaster said his intention was to expel the troublesome children from school as they would spoil their well-behaved peers. “They actually waylaid a Form Two student and savagely beat him, inflicting grievous injuries to his mouth. The attack was so savage that I had to send the signal that there is no room for thugs at this school,” Mafara said in a telephone interview. He invited The Zimbabwean to visit the school and get first-hand information.
Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart said his office was available to help if necessary. “We expect parents or guardians of affected children to take up the issue with their local education offices. If they are not happy with the way the case is handled there, they are free to follow channels up until they reach my office,” said Coltart.
Post published in: News
Surely we would expect the Hon. Minister of Education to investigate such an allegation instead of asking the parents of children to contact the Ministry of Education in Mutare. It costs one person U$8,00 for a return trip to Mutare from Marange. I wonder how much more the parents of those children who misbehaved in the village are supposed to pay for them to get justice. Minister Coltart, Marange is a rural constituency, lest you are not aware and asking a parent to travel to Mutare is another cost that the parent is not able to bear. We wonder how long it will take for the case to get to your office Minister given that you cannot respond to issues that are raised by parents without following “proper channels”. We were looking forward that you would make an effort to at least investigate with your Mutare office or the school. A school head abuses his office, abuses children, abuses parents and the Minister waits for a proper channel to be followed!!!!