Mutumbuka steps in to stop school going private

The Herald

28 March 1981

THE Minister of Education and Culture, Mr Dzingai Mutumbuka, has been angered by a Salisbury community school’s move to go private instead of reverting to Government control.

Commenting on a decision by the board of governors of the Alexandra Park Preparatory School to go private, Mr Mutumbuka said they were acting in an “irresponsible manner”.

At meetings held recently of the board and parent’s proposals were put forward to have the community school go private.

Some parents feel their children might have to be taken away since fees will rise from $50 a term to $200 if proposals are carried out.

Mr Mutumbuka said: “One of the main criticisms in the argument against community schools has been that they were bought for a song.

“Therefore, if the Alexandra Park Preparatory School wants to go private, its value will have to be reassessed. I will insist that money for the property be paid in a very short period of months rather than years. “So if parents want to go ahead they will have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to meet the demands of my Ministry.

“I have seen a number of parents from the of school complaining of the relationship of the former community school with the Ministry. I have informed them that if Mr Horn and his ilk want to have a confrontation with the Government, I am ready for for that,” Mr Mutumbuka said.

He said the governors of Alexandra Park were acting irresponsibly, “because they are under taking to frustrate Government policy by pre-empting the issue of community schools before all other matters have been considered”.

A parent of a child at the school said that other black parents were shocked by the reaction of the board and administration.