According to the Ministry of Primary and secondary schools Education’s press release on the: 2016 guidelines on enrolment into form 1, the enrolment date was scheduled to be on the 4th of December 2015.
In separate interviews parents from Chegutu high density suburbs accused the school head, only identified as Mrs. U. Mutangara of violating the rights of children by refusing to release the results.
“I am deeply hurt and crushed in spirit. Our children’s academic carriers has been jeopardized after they failed to get their results, since (results) are the major prerequisites in the acquirement of form one places. I am not employed. I tried to kindly request the school head whether we could make a payment plan to settle my debt but the loose tongued Mutangara refused , ’’ said an elderly Pfupajena woman, Emely Shirichena.
Another elderly man from Lambon farm equally expressed disappoint as he claim to have tried to engage the head for a payment plan without success.
“I am not happy at all, I approached Chinengundu Primary School Head “Amai Mutangara†for a payment plan in a bid to clear my arrears but she had no kind words. After all I am not of her age, she is my great grandchildren’s age, but he behave as if he is dealing with his children. Never in my long life have I witnessed such a high level of ill-treatment, ‘’ said Gogo Milanzi.
Some parents and students have called on Government to intervene and relieve them from what they called social evil.
‘’We are calling upon the Government to assist so that we will be able to access our results and pay whatever our parents owe the school later, said the seemingly, troubled Jane Sibanda who seemed eager to proceed to secondary school.
When our news crew got to the school on Monday parents from various farming community most of whom are former commercial farm retrenches from Kamtanga ,Gadzema, Stockdale, Sunny Valley, Lambon, Mfure, David area, Pfupajena, Rifle range and Cremer were wandering in the school yard while the school head was adamant on payment of fees first.
Several efforts to contact Mashonaland West provincial education director Sylvester Mashayamombe were fruitless by the time of going to post. However, Mash-west education officer who declined to be identified said there is no government policy giving schools authority to withhold results of owing pupils.
He said: “First, children do not have any contracts with schools, but parents should make payments plans while that concerned child is given his/her results to progress to the next level.â€
While presiding over a headmaster’s case in Gweru, Bulawayo high court judge justice Maphios Cheda ruled that the school headmaster who expels, suspends or withholds pupils’ examination results on the basis of nonpayment of fees and levies were committing an offence under section 7(1) of the children’s act.