AUTHORITIES have condemned the transportation of school pupils by pirate taxis, popularly known as mushikashika, and commuters omnibuses, describing them as unsafe, especially for the girl child.
Bulawayo acting provincial education director Priscillar Chibelu said during the St Columba’s High School prize-giving day and school bus commissioning ceremony recently. Chibelu said the school bus should be utilised as transport for pupils to curb the abuse of girls in public transport.
She applauded the school’s initiative to acquire a bus for the safety of the children.
“Our pupils are not safe in the hands of pirate taxis and kombi touts, worse with the girl child. If the pupils will be transported to and from their residential areas, it will curb these central business district fights which we have witnessed pupils killing each other, those dangerous fights as they travel back home,” Chibelu said.
She added the school bus should be used to generate income at the institution for other projects that need to be accomplished.
“As they are hired, the profits should be used to purchase resources to be used by both teachers and pupils and the general running of school activities and ease pressure on parents as they are always requested to fund the school activities,” Chibelu said.
St Columba’s High headmaster Canon Ncube urged parents and guardians to guide and support the learners at home, especially during this examination period.
“We are encouraging parents to assist in guiding learners on proper conduct every time so as to reduce bullying, thieving, alcohol consumption and fighting,” he said.
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Ncube said he believed home is the best place for moral upbringing and parents should always be on the lookout as many young people are prone to drug and substance abuse.
