Schools ordered not to sell stationery

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
SCHOOLS have no mandate to sell uniforms and stationery to parents but should instead concentrate on their core business of teaching pupils, an official has said.

The call comes at a time when some schools are allegedly forcing parents to buy uniforms and stationery from them.

In an interview, Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Dan Moyo said his office has instituted investigations into the alleged practice by some of the schools.

“I have information reaching me about schools in Bulawayo that are selling uniforms and stationery. That is illegal. I have instituted investigations and we will look into the matter as that should not be done. Schools have a core business which is to teach,” said Mr Moyo.

Mr Moyo said it did not make sense for school authorities to force parents to buy books and uniforms in an urban setting.

“Why must schools sell these things when we are in an urban setting, they are all within the reach of all parents. What profits are these people making who are selling books and so on,” he asked.

Investigations by Sunday News revealed that some schools were forcing parents to buy uniforms and stationery provided by the institutions. In most cases, the stationery will be priced higher than in most shops raising suspicion that the schools are ripping off parents.

However, Mr Moyo said the province was also in a catch 22 situation regarding parents who are illegally selling wares at school premises.

“We have parents and individuals that are found at schools and they sell these things to parents. We cannot really chase them away because they are desperate, they are trying to also eke out a living out of the goods they sell, we cannot remove them as such, times are hard,” he said.

A parent who refused to be named who sells uniforms at a local primary school said they were also trying to make ends meet.

“We are just trying to make clean money, we sell at prices slightly lower than that of shops but we are not taking away all their customers. We have parents that come early in the morning to buy hats, ties and even socks after a child would have lost it the previous day. The parent will not find a shop open at 7am but as entrepreneurs we are always available at schools,” she said.

She added that with the introduction of Early Childhood Development classes pupils were starting school at an early stage hence some shops were not supplying the small sizes.

“We can do the uniforms as per specifications,” said the trader.