School holds US$3 civvies day weekly

fee from every pupil in a desperate bid to save the school from collapse.
The former Group A school’s development committee chairman, Mr Clever Musakaruka, said the school was “broke” and the fundraising was a temporary measure to save it from total collapse.
Apparently, school workers have not been paid their wages for some time and the authorities found it fit to raise funds through weekly civvies fees.
Mr Musakaruka said the fundraising had been scheduled for every Wednesday until the closure of schools, but it was cut short after some parents complained.
Schools close this week.
The parents argue that the decision was a unilateral one and that they were not consulted.
They even proposed for a meeting where they agree on a fixed additional levy unlike conducting the “ambush” civvies collections. Some even proposed an audit to establish how the shortage came about.
The first collection, according to the recent communication that parents got from their children, was done on March 9 and each child paid US$2.
On March 16, children paid US$3 each since the civvies day also incorporated a disco.
The Herald understands when several parents called the school complaining over the issue, the school stopped the fundraising event.
The Herald learnt that some children, who were not aware of the new development, even came to school in their casual wear.
The school that has almost 2 000 pupils, is believed to have collected at least US$10 000 over the past two weeks.
Mr Musakaruka said the school needed to clear unbudgeted debts that amounted to US$25 000.
“We had planned to conduct some fundraising activities weekly to clear the bills. As we speak, we are indebted to Harare City Council to the tune of US$15 000.
“We also need to raise US$9 000 for the NSSA contributions and of late the school workers have not been receiving their wages and salaries.
“The school is actually broke. We held those fundraising activities because the school had no money.
“We would have wanted to conduct those activities throughout the term, but we failed due to unnecessary pressure and complaints from parents.
“This was an emergence rescue operation to cushion the school pending an annual general meeting for the levy increase,” he said.
Most streams at the school have up to seven classes and each class is composed of about 50 pupils.
The Herald received several phone calls from parents who complained over the fundraising strategy.
Parents said no meeting was conducted on the issue and that it only came through letters without any room for feedback. When The Herald visited the school, the headmaster only identified as Mr GJ Kamhuka refused to comment saying he needed to get authorisation from his superiors at the Ministry of Education Sport and Culture offices.
He added that the school was involved in a lot of positive activities, but the press was only interested on “negative issues”.
“I cannot comment on that issue until I get authority from my superiors at the ministry. Why is it you only come to us when there is something you feel is wrong or unjust. We do a lot of positive activities that you do not cover.
“At times we hold sporting activities and in the event of pupils getting injured we call ambulances and take them to hospital. But you are not interested in such positive news,” he said.
An elderly woman from Ruwa who had come to negotiate sponsorship for her Grade Seven granddaughter said she never got the written communication from the school on the issue.
Ms Mary Machingura of Windsor Park in Ruwa said the payment of bills was none of the guardians’ concern.
She added that the money should simply be taken from levies they pay every term
“We pay US$50 as levy and if the school feels the levies are too little, they should call for a meeting and discuss for a proposed levy increase instead of harassing us weekly.
“We also want to know how the said shortfall came up considering the school was operating normally,” said the woman.
Another woman refused to be identified for fear that her child could possible be victimised said the school development committee only embarked on the activities without hearing their views.