Loreto High School in Silobela, about 100 km west of Kwekwe, allegedly sent learners in forms 1, 3 and 5 home this Thursday for outstanding fees and is said to be planning to send forms 4 and 6 home on Friday.
A school authority who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the development in a phone interview with Pindula News. Said the authority:
Yes, it’s true. They left the school around 10 am. They were ferried by the school bus to Kwekwe and some have since returned suggesting that they met their parents or guardians in Kwekwe.
The authority said this reporter must contact the school head, Mr Philip Musindo Mapiravana who denied the reports. He said:
What’s your mission? I do not know anything about that.
Mr Mapiravana also denied writing a WhatsApp message, gleaned by this reporter, in which he allegedly told parents that the learners had been given passes to go home. Read the message:
Vana vapiwa passes. Coming home now
A parent who spoke to Pindula News also suggested that the school head had sent the learners home. The parent who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concern over the development saying learners were “dumped” in Kwekwe. Added the parent:
Then from there, he said vana vazvionere and some of them have no money on them. Some come from Harare or even further.
In an audio sent earlier, the head said the bus will go as far as Gweru.
The major concern is the safety of these children a lot is happening. No parent was informed prior to this that their children were coming home. These children are engaging in all sorts of things this week you published those 12 girls from a Shurugwi school who were then found drunk in white waters. What if they don’t get home? What if they don’t have transport money from Kwekwe then that child is stuck in Kwekwe. Who knows what they will do to get home?
The head is allegedly planning to send home the students in classes sitting for national examinations – forms 4 and 6 – tomorrow (Friday) after their exams.
The development comes after Parliament has discussed the issue of non-payment of fees.
On 28 September 2022, Umzingwane Constituency National Assembly member Levi Mayihlome said parents were abusing the government’s policy which forbids schools from sending learners home over non-payment of fees.
He made the remarks during the National Assembly Question and Answer session adding that the situation was not sustainable as school administrators were running schools on a zero budget. He said: