Online Reporter
Ethel Ncube
TENSIONS ran high at Nkulumane Primary School in Mpopoma recently after parents and residents clashed with the headmistress over the alleged removal of pupils from the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) programme.
The meeting, which was called by the headmistress Alice Makowane on 13 July, reportedly descended into chaos after parents questioned why it had been convened without the involvement of the BEAM committee.
Parents accused the school administration of failing to engage them properly before announcing changes affecting pupils on the government-supported programme.
“Firstly, we no longer want the headmistress for several different reasons. Now she called a meeting saying BEAM has no money and parents must pay for themselves because there is now a donor.
Those on BEAM must now pay,” said one parent.
The parent said the school should have first consulted the BEAM committee before addressing parents.
“The question is: why was the meeting called by the head and her deputy without first sitting down with the committee to discuss and then calling us to explain properly so we understand? Not what they did,” the parent said.
Other parents accused the school of charging for Saturday lessons, remedial classes and monthly projects contributions.
They claimed pupils are required to attend school on Saturdays, where they are charged US$1 per child. They also alleged that parents pay US$4 for projects and a further US$10 per month for what the school calls remedial lessons.
“When we told the headmistress, she refused and said there is no such thing, but it’s happening. We want an answer from the Ministry of Education: is what they are doing allowed? And is remedial sold in schools? We want answers,” said another parent.
Another parent said the school had not been transparent about its finances and accused the headmistress of refusing to account to parents.
“We always ask for a financial statement. The headmistress refuses to explain to us how money is used at the school,” the parent said.
Parents claimed the situation had strained relations between the school administration and the community, with some calling for the transfer of the headmistress.
Makowane declined to comment on the allegations and referred questions to the Provincial Education Director (PED) for Bulawayo, Bernard Mazambane.
Repeated efforts to get a response from Mazambane were unsuccessful. His phone initially rang but the line was breaking, and subsequent calls did not go through.
