The ManicaPost
Police called in l PED’s office probes incident
Blessing Rwizi Post Correspondent
DANGAMVURA High School students last Friday ran amok, emptying rubbish bins in classroom and along corridors, singing and breaking window panes, protesting over alleged corruption and poor administration by the school authorities.
Trouble started when the school authorities failed to send the school choir for music competitions that were held in Chipinge on the very day.
More so, the material needed for building practical examination that was set for October 3 was not put in place on time, with the school headmistress Mrs Patience Matende and her deputy, Mr Clever Chiturumana citing that there was no money in the bank.
They blamed the cash crisis that has hit the country over the recent months.
Form Four students were on the forefront as they whipped their juniors, forcing them to join them for the unrest.
Mr Chiturumana had to call the police who came armed with button sticks to calm the situation.
District Schools Inspector from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education came for a meeting with the school prefects on behalf of the agitated students, to investigate the matter.
Mrs Matende was barred from attending the meeting.
She declined to comment on the matter and referred reporters to the Ministry officials.
One Form Four student said: “They have been misusing our funds for quite some time now and we have had enough of it. Several times we fail to go out for sporting activities as they tell us that there is no money in the school account. Where is the money going? Mrs Matende is very rude, she is heartless,” alleged the angry 16-year-old boy who declined to be named.
He also cited that the school officials had failed to send the drum majorettes team that was supposed to perform at the 2016 Manicaland Agricultural Show.
“It is very true that this woman had not been dealing well with both the students and the teaching staff.
“At times it seems like it’s not the students’ right to go for competitions as the responsible authorities site that there is no money. Nobody can ever tell Matende what to do and she doesn’t seem to care much about the students’ welfare. That is the reason why they have gone violent,” said one teacher who refused to identify himself for the fear of victimisation.
Contacted for comment, Manicaland Provincial Education Director Mr Edward Shumba said preliminary investigations into the matter revealed that it was caused by discontent among the students after the school failed to secure transport to Chipinge for the school’s choral music team competitions.
“After having been informed about that issue, I sent the district schools inspector to verify and gather facts.
“I was made to understand that the school failed to secure funding to send the choral music team to competitions in Chipinge. This is the issue that sparked the protests.
“The school said they could not get cash from the bank in time. However, we talked about this before and we advised schools to make prior arrangements with banks so that transfers can be made in time. Ideally students felt that they are not being developed yet it is their right.
“As a Ministry we will send education officers from the province to then get to the bottom of the matter and see whether the issue warrants disciplinary procedures or it was just a minor disturbance that could only need necessary advice being given to relevant people,” he said.
