adminNational Association of School Heads-(NASH) President Johnson Madhuku told The Manica Post in an exclusive interview, that most school heads have nothing to fear or hide from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary schools audit teams.
In an inclusive interview marking the launch of a new Manica Post special, Head-To- Head with MM, the Pamushana High School head did not mince his words and sentiments about the forensic audits which left a few heads rolling in the schools around the country recently.
MM: Sir, you are aware the news-media has recently been awash with screaming headlines about heads rolling in the schools following forensic audit teams unleashed to bring culprits to book.
JM:I am aware. School heads make juicy news for the news media.
MM: Mr president, with a small-letter ‘p’, some of the heads you lead are thieves. Can you deny that? And several of them face serious charges or dismissal as we speak.
JM: I support government’s forensic audit. We have nothing to hide or fear from these audit teams. Most of us are responsible and professional school managers. As NASH president, I fully support these audits, as long as they are done professionally and genuinely, not resembling witch-hunting.
MM: What is wrong, Mr president, with witch-hunting, if there are ‘witches’ heading schools in the country?
JM: I accept there are wayward individuals, corrupt heads, bad apples in the fold, but how many are there compared to many who do their best to deliver desired outcomes in the schools they head under very difficult circumstances? We find bad apples in every bunch, don’t we? I wonder why two or three school heads found on the wrong side of the law create media noise?
MM: Because they are supposed to know better and be exemplary. And a thief is not a good example, is he or she? When the media gets wind of corruption it has an obligation does it not to expose such rot? And we make the brouhaha…why not? And you blame and hate the media for unearthing the truth?
JM: I’m not defending corrupt school heads or thieves. I’m only asking, ‘how many are there in these schools?’ Certainly one bad apple does not make the whole bunch rotten, does it? And when that apple is discovered, why not, it must be pulled out of the bunch. But the rest must surely be appreciated for their fruitfulness and nutritional value. It’s the blanket blame I have problems with.
MM: I hear you Mr President. You support the audit exercises and…
JM: Yes, before you proceed, allow me to make this point abundantly clear. School heads manage public funds invested by hard-working parents and guardians into their children’s education. So accountability is not and cannot be negotiable here. The use of school fees or levies must be transparent. Every school head must be responsible, accountable and ethical in the use of public funds. That is a standard I as NASH president and head of a school must never compromise. So government is right, very right to call for these audits. It is the manner in which they are conducted that is my ‘however’.
MM: What is your However?
JM: However, these audit teams must consider that most of the school heads are not trained financial managers…not an excuse, but an important insinuating circumstance. While some heads are already proudly running with advanced, technological, computer financial accounting systems, others are still struggling with computer literacy.
MM: Are you saying computer illiteracy or ICT poverty causes embezzlement of funds Mr Madhuku?
JM: Not at all. I’m saying when the audits are done they must consider upgrading programmes for school heads to reduce financial mismanagement caused by lack of accounting wisdom. Many of the school heads are not as competent as others owing to lack of proper developmental training.
MM: Your point has been made Mr Madhuku. Your school is on a number of visible status upgrading projects, the new state-of-the art library to be commissioned or officially opened by Primary and Secondary education Minister Dokora tomorrow, face-lifting of whole school, partnering with former students and service delivery organizations and businesses…too many to mention. Wonderful work on the school! But those must wait for other days and interviews. Your final word on forensic audits!
JM: Thank you for the compliments. We are doing our best to make our school a model of excellence in every sense. My final word on audits: Necessary, Must be conducted professionally guided by conscience and consideration- and for everyone involved or interested in judging school heads, please know to know we are not saints.
MM: Sweet words to end with. Thanks Mr Madhuku. Allow me to engage you head-to-head again whenever there are other issues to talk about in the future.
JM: Any day
MM. Thank you. Before you go, allow me to invite you to the official opening of our library by Honourable Minister Dokora Saturday 10 October- here at Pamushana. The occasion begins at 10 o’clock in the morning.
MM: Rest assured I will be there to cover the event. Can’t wait!
Online Reporter