Schoolhead, teachers hide from angry parents

Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter THE headmistress of a Bulawayo school and four teachers locked themselves in an office for nearly two hours when angry parents who had failed to get 2015 Early Childhood Development (ECD) places for their children turned violent, amid corruption claims.Greenfield Primary School head, only identified as N Sibindi, was still barricaded in her office with four teachers when our news crew visited at around 5.30PM yesterday.

They only left the school after 6PM when the angry parents had left. A staff member at the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Sibindi had locked herself in her office from 2PM as dozens of parents bayed for her blood after failing to secure places for their children.

They accused the school authourities of being corrupt. “She has been in the office for close to two and half hours. She is opening and closing her back windows for water and other things which the clerk is bringing for her,” said the school official. Outside her office, angry parents accused Sibindi and her staff of being corrupt by allegedly receiving bribes from parents who got places for their children.

“At 4:30AM I was here and its 5:30PM and I’m still here,” said a disgruntled parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I’ve this card which I was given and is written Number 8, but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to be served.” Another parent said he lives a stone’s throw from the school but had seen children with parents staying as far as Nkulumane 12 getting places.

He said the priority suburbs for ECD consideration at the school were Newton West, West Somerton, Bellevue and Montrose. “Look at the notice board, there is a list of priority suburbs. I live just a stone’s throw away. From my house I can see this office but my child has failed to get a place,” said another parent.

Also failing to get places were children coming from Balfour Pre-School which is close to the Primary School. An official with Balfour Pre- School said during the previous years, their children would get preference. “Every year they sent an invitation letter and every year our children were getting places.

But this time it’s different. All 16 kids failed to get a place and we wonder why,” said the official. Last night, Sibindi said: “Go and speak to the Provincial Education Officer please.”