Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Checkpoint Reporter
A FEMALE student teacher at one of Bulawayo’s top girls-only schools, Townsend High School, has been accused of engaging in lesbian relationships with pupils at the institution.
The languages teacher, identified only as Ms Ndou from Matabeleland South Province, was on teaching practice from Hillside Teachers’ College during the first term.
She was residing in Carnegie, one of the school’s two boarding hostels, together with learners, in accordance with the school policy which allows student teachers to be accommodated in hostels if space permits.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro, confirmed the incident and revealed that the student teacher had since been removed from the school, stating that the ministry does not take such matters of misconduct lightly.
He said investigations had confirmed that the student teacher had breached professional or ethical boundaries by engaging in inappropriate behaviour with pupils.
“For the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, addressing situations of misconduct or abuse in educational settings is always a serious matter, and it is essential to prioritise the safety and well-being of pupils above all else.
“The investigation confirmed that a student teacher violated professional or ethical boundaries by engaging in abusive behaviour towards pupils; therefore, corrective action was taken by removing the individual from the school environment and returning her to the college programme for further accountability. This is a necessary step to protect pupils and uphold institutional integrity,” said Mr Ndoro.
A source revealed that the issue surfaced during an anti-social behaviour and drug and substance abuse campaign conducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police at the school during the first term. Some learners reportedly confided to authorities that improper relationships existed between a female teacher and certain pupils.
“This practice is rampant at the school, but it has remained hidden from the public as it mostly involves learners among themselves. This particular case came to light because a teacher was involved,” said the source.
The source further alleged that the student teacher was involved with more than one learner, potentially sparking jealousy among the pupils, which may have led some to report the situation.
It also emerged that some members of the school administration initially attempted to downplay the matter until it reached the attention of the headmistress, Mrs Thoko Tshabalala.
Although investigations reportedly validated the allegations, efforts to have the student teacher removed were allegedly resisted by certain officials from both the school administration and Hillside Teachers’ College, who feared her abrupt removal would raise suspicion among unaware pupils and parents.
The headmistress, however, is said to have insisted on the teacher’s immediate removal.
“When this matter unfolded, the National Association of Secondary School Heads’ provincial schools athletics team was in camp at the school preparing for the national finals in Bindura, and all school heads were busy. It was also a few weeks before the school holidays, so we think they allowed the term to end,” the source added.
Contacted for comment, Mrs Tshabalala neither confirmed nor denied the incident, instead referring queries to her deputy, Mrs Buitumelo Nare, as she was on holiday in South Africa.
“My deputy will be able to respond to all your questions,” she said.
Mrs Nare also neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, and referred all enquiries to the Ministry.
“We report to our higher offices,” she said.
In a similar case in 2016, a female teacher at Zwangendaba High School in Lupane, Matabeleland North Province was embroiled in a lesbianism scandal, with reports that schoolgirls were fighting over her after she reportedly proposed love to them.
