Online Reporter
YESTERDAY, we carried a disturbing story about some prefects at Chinyika High School, a private boarding school in Goromonzi, who are being accused of bullying Form One students.
In the article we highlighted that these prefects are being forced to do gruelling physical exercises as early as 2 am.
During these exercises, the prefects are being accused of randomly beating the students with brooms.
One particular prefect, known as “Smokey,” has been fingered as one of the main culprits in the bullying of these Form One students.
Reports claimed “Smokey’ was expelled from another school before enrolling at Chinyika High School.
The alarming accounts of bullying were shared by the students during a recent school visit on Saturday.
Foster Ruwiza, the school headmaster, confirmed receipt of these troubling reports.
He acknowledged that some parents have formally raised their concerns about the prefects’ behaviour.
Ruwiza assured parents that a thorough investigation would be conducted to address the situation.
Following the initial reports, investigations revealed that certain prefects were, indeed, bullying other students.
Ruwiza indicated that those responsible have been warned.
He said the school authorities were working with the parents of these students to find alternative schooling options as their behaviour has become increasingly disruptive.
We reported that some students have expressed a desire to leave the school.
Some victims have been pleading with their parents for transfer letters saying they were now fearing for their safety.
One parent urged school authorities to reconsider the powers granted to prefects.
He said their main concern was how the school’s administration could allow one student to wield so much power over others.
He said being a prefect did not remove the fact that they are still students.
Another parent said the situation at Chinyika High School highlights the urgent need for effective measures to prevent bullying and ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students.
He said it was a call to action for both school authorities and parents to foster a culture of respect and accountability.
The bullying at Chinyika High School isn’t an isolated trend but it’s just that this is the school which, right now, has been thrust into the spotlight.
The reality is that many boarding schools in this country are having to deal with bullying and many students, especially Form Ones, are victims and are being abused in ways which are unacceptable.
These issues have been highlighted in the media for years now and it appears that we don’t have a solution as a country as to how we can end the nightmare which these Form One pupils deal with.
When it gets to extreme levels where students are bashed with brooms, in the early hours of the morning, we feel that this is crossing the line.
This is no longer bullying but it’s savage bashing which should attract the attention of the police.
We don’t send our kids to school to be bashed by bullies but for them to get an education.
Mathew Masinge