PRIMARY and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora yesterday summoned and grilled headmasters of three trust schools, which heeded Wednesday’s anti-government stay away and barred pupils from coming to school.
BY REJOICE CHINGWARU
Addressing journalists soon after the closed-door meeting with heads of Bishopslea Preparatory School for Girls, Hellenic Academy and Gateway Schools, Dokora said the authorities had unreservedly apologised for heeding cleric Evan Mawarire’s stay away call.
“It has come to our attention that some schools, particularly schools that fall under ATS (Association of Trust Schools), acted in response to unfounded information circulating on social media and turned away learners on Wednesday. Any deviation to the learning calendar other than what the ministry has prescribed will not be tolerated,” he said.
Dokora claimed that the ATS leaders “apologised” for their act.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) has rapped the University of Zimbabwe for unilaterally increasing tuition fees from $400 to $450 per semester, saying the hike was unjustified.
Zinasu spokesperson, Zivai Mhetu said: “Why raise school fees, when there has been no upsurge in the price of commodities?”
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Mhetu warned of looming student protests when the university opens for the next semester, as their families could not afford the new fees given the current harsh economic environment.
“This has created a conducive environment for civil disobedience within the student community. When colleges open administrations should be prepared for student protests,” he said.
At least 12 000 university students reportedly dropped out of school this year, as the economic situation took a heavy toll on the education sector.
“The situation prevailing in the country has rendered us incapable of accessing education, but we cannot continue dropping-out, while the few people that have money carry on with their studies and leave us behind. The few students that can afford to pay these fees should refuse to do so in solidarity with the majority that can’t,” Mhetu said.
