adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
A HEADMASTER at Mambale Secondary School in Mangwe District has composed 44 jingles which he forces teachers and pupils to recite each day as a way of improving the school’s pass rates, it was claimed yesterday. The school is one of 12 “schools of shame” in Matabeleland South which recorded a zero percent pass rate in the 2012 and 2013 Ordinary Level examinations. Angry teachers say since the second term opened, Norman Muvimi demands everyone to memorise and recite his “motivational” songs.
Teachers who spoke to this newspaper claimed the headmaster had unsettled many, with some parents reportedly threatening to withdraw their children from the school.
The teachers said they had written to the local district education officer to register their concerns.
One of the jingles goes: “Fly, fly, fly little bird! Hip, hip, hip rabbit! Spell it yeah, spell it yeah! Bird with a b, Rabbit with double b! Spell it yeah, spell it yeah! Bird with b yeah, rabbit with double b yeah!”
Teachers who asked not to be named, fearing victimisation, said Muvimi accuses them of failing to produce good results.
“He makes us sing songs like ‘fly, fly, fly little bird’. We don’t see how this will improve the school’s pass rate. We’ve tried to talk to him over the issue but he doesn’t listen,” said one of the teachers.
The teachers said since the announcement of the poor results, the headmaster has been giving them a torrid time.
“He gives us a lot of work and if we fail to do it, he insults us. We’re always under pressure, stressed and scared,” said another teacher.
Some said Muvimi has developed a habit of following teachers to their residences after work giving them assignments.
“The working environment is no longer friendly. He gives us assignments each time after dismissal and demands them the following morning. He puts his stamp on each assignment and if you fail, you’ll get insults,” said another teacher.
Muvimi declined to comment on the issue yesterday morning requesting to be interviewed after 4PM. Later in the day, his number was diverting to Mangwe district education officer, Headman Mpofu.
Mpofu — who referred questions to the provincial education director in Gwanda — said his office had not received any complaint from the teachers, adding: “Why should they choose to go through the Press? They should have exhausted all the channels.”
Muvimi is said to have joined the school in 2012 after serving as deputy head at Plumtree High School.
Bongani Ndlovu