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Talent Chimutambgi Herald Reporter
At least 85 pupils at a private college in Harare did not write their Ordinary Level examinations which kicked off on Wednesday last week after the owner failed to register them with the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council. It emerged that Quick Pass College in Waterfalls was not registered with Zimsec, but its owner, Mr Brighton Chapwanya, had collected exam fees and centre fees from the students on the pretext that he would register them for the examinations.
In such cases, after collecting the exam and centre fees, owners of unregistered colleges usually negotiate with Zimsec’s approved centres to register their students. There was pandemonium at the college on Friday last week as some of the affected parents were fuming against Mr Chapwanya, while others were battling to restrain students who were destroying school furniture.
Mr Chapwanya had sneaked from the college after realising that parents and students were turning violent. He allegedly showed the students fake registration forms, only for them to be shocked to discover there were no examinations for them. Mr Chapwanya could not be reached for comment in the last few days as his mobile phone went unanswered.
The chaotic situation on Friday was quelled by District Education Officer Mr Solomon Mafukidze, who went to the college accompanied by a police detective after news filtered that there was violence. Addressing the parents, Mr Mafukidze said they should consult with his offices before enrolling their children at private col- leges.
“Before you take your children to a private school, consult us so that we can advise whether the college is registered or not. We don’t charge for that, it’s free consultation,” he said. Mr Mafukidze expressed concern over unregistered colleges sprouting in the country, saying the owners were bent on defraud- ing parents. By Friday, the students had already missed Biology, Accounts and Bible Knowledge papers and there was no sign that they would sit for the other papers this year.
The unregistered college opened its doors in 2013.
Online Reporter