. . .parents unsettled, worry over the ‘new teaching method’
By TellZim Reporter
A teacher from Mushavhi Secondary school in Bikita, (name withheld), has come under fire for allegedly collecting saliva samples from an entire class of learners, sparking concerns among parents about the unconventional teaching methods.
Learners and parents who spoke to TellZim News questioned the unusual method used by the teacher during one lesson, and their primary concern is the unknown disposal of the soiled paper.
The incident follows another one from Nehanda Primary School in the same district where two teachers allegedly draw blood from 19 pupils using syringes and parents are worried over the recurring unusual behavior by teachers.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, she asked the reporter to go back to the sources and ask them what had transpired or to visit the school to get more information.
“Go back to the people who told you and ask them why I did that, they know or you can alternatively come to the school. There are some leaners who saw me disposing off the paper so I don’t know what’s the issue,” she said.
The school head Peter Zvibodo was not available for comment as his cell went unanswered several times
Leaners who spoke to TellZim and refused to be named for fear of reprisal said the teacher started the lesson by discussing self-preservation and self-control, particularly for girls, emphasizing the importance of avoiding promiscuity until they complete their education.
To drive the point home, she allegedly asked all leaners to spit on a clean sheet of paper, with only two refusing to comply. The teacher then folded the paper and asked a student to write on it, but the leaner declined, citing the paper’s contamination with others’ saliva.
The teacher allegedly used this demonstration to illustrate how others perceive someone who engages in promiscuous behavior, likening it to the soiled paper. She then took the folded paper outside, reportedly to dispose of it behind the toilets, raising concerns about the potential health and safety implications.
What’s more disturbing is that despite leaners complaining to other teachers, the matter seems to have been swept under the rug.
Education officials have visited the school multiple times, but the issue was never addressed sparking concerns that she could be connected to higher offices.
“We were shocked that the matter seemed to have died within the school premises because it was never taken up. When we saw education officials visiting the school, we thought they had come for the matter, but we were shocked to learn they had come for another case involving the teacher and the head, not ours,” said one leaner.
Parents who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of exposing their children called for an investigation into the teacher’s methods, questioning whether her approach was acceptable.
“The teacher is new at the school, she came late last year, and we have never heard of such a method of teaching. She came from college to this school, and we want the education officials to investigate her case and hear if her way of teaching is accepted,”
Other parents questioned her sincerity to want to dispose the paper herself whereas the class was full of leaners whom she could have asked to dispose the paper.
“Why didn’t she end one of the leaners to dispose the paper, her saliva were not there so why was she not disgusted by the leaners’ saliva,” queried one parent
