adminArron Nyamayaro
PARENTS have clashed with Direct Contact School for barring their children from attending lessons due to unpaid bus fare as well as the school’s heavy-handed approach.
The parents have also called for a meeting to be convened where a School Development Committee can be formed to address their grievances.
These include the school’s treatment of students, holiday lessons fees, uniforms, supervision and bad results.
There was drama at the school, on the opening day of the second term on Monday, when teachers and security guards barred students without gate passes from entering the premises.
One parent clashed with a teacher for turning away his child whose fees were paid in full, but had not paid the bus fare.
Parents expressed anger in a WhatsApp group.
“Authorities are refusing to meet parents, but dictate what they want and even humiliate our children,” said one disgruntled parent.
“Parents were not allowed to drop their children in the school yard as they demanded gate passes and to open our children’s lunch boxes to see if there were no drugs or other substances.
“Our children attend school traumatised and the headmaster tells everyone who raises a complaint to remove his or her child from Direct Contact School.
“As parents, we are stakeholders at Direct Contact by virtue of our children being enrolled there, and if we don’t demand our rights as parents, they will be trampled upon.
“There was chaos on the opening day of schools as there isn’t enough space to drop children by the gate.”
The parent added: “The school is using a heavy-handed approach and some parents have removed their children for unpaid holiday lessons after the school demanded a boarding fee for holiday lessons.
“The general treatment of students, foul attitude of school authorities, bad results and supervision, militant attitude on holiday lessons and multiple uniforms are among some of the grievances we want addressed.
“They don’t want an SDC to be formed, but they surely must meet parents, we need an urgent meeting.”
A number of students were sent back home for not paying bus fare.
Other schools in the country are also experiencing conflicts between authorities and parents over unpaid fees.
Girls High School forced students, who hadn’t paid, to sit in the hall while others attended lessons.
Seke High 1 School barred students from accessing the premises, while Glen View High 3 parents complained of being asked to pay for CALA.
Townsend High in Bulawayo reportedly closed its Zim dollar bank account, without notifying parents, and demanded that all payments be in forex.
Online Reporter