By Itai Muzondo
Some schools in Bikita district in Masvingo province have resorted to quarantining students after protracted battle with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education policy which denies schools to send pupils home for unpaid fees.
Several parents who filed complaints to Tell Zimbabwe disclosed that Mandiki Primary among other schools are quarantining students in classes where they are not taught because they either have fees arrears or current fees not yet paid.
Some of the students chased from schools are now selling bananas in town
The Provincial Education Director (PED) Zedias Chitiga however expressed that there is need for immediate attention to that situation.
“I am going to make investigations and deal with those errant schools ….it is not allowed, this is totally against policy. Every parent is obliged to pay fees so the child should suffer in no way for that “said the amazed Chitiga.
Meanwhile, some headmasters from schools which dismissed pupils over fees last week have since denied the allegations saying everything was being done by the School Development Committees (SDC).
“We are very worried because headmasters are not willing to negotiate with us, they are quarantine our children. Pupils from grade one to grade seven are put in one classroom from morning until they are dismissed around 1630 hours every day.
“The Ministry should come down here (Bikita) and correct this anomaly as soon as possible,” said one of the parents with children at Mandiki Primary.local
