Online Reporter
Gabriel Manyeruke
THE recent viral explicit video circulating on social media — showing two 16-year-old boys from Masasi High School in Manicaland sexually abusing a girl aged 17 — has sent shockwaves through the education sector.
The boys reportedly recorded this appalling criminal act on a mobile phone after allegedly drugging the victim.
Now under investigation by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, this incident is not merely a tragic case of juvenile delinquency but a sobering wake-up call to schools, parents and society at large.
This tragic act of sexual abuse is not an isolated incident.
Towards the end of the academic year, many schools witness a troubling trend as some Form Four and Upper Sixth candidates, who will be on the verge of completing their secondary education, begin to perceive themselves as adults.
This perceived maturity, however, is often misguided.
While some learners remain focused on revision and performance, others spiral into reckless behaviour — seeking attention, testing boundaries and undermining the very institutions that nurtured them.
Instead of embracing responsibility, some poorly groomed candidates resort to disruptive antics such as defying dress codes, skipping lessons, experimenting with drugs and engaging in unethical conduct — all under the illusion that writing public exams makes them untouchable.
This misplaced excitement often leads to irreversible consequences.
Phones: A double-edged sword
The misuse of mobile phones in schools has become a growing concern.
In the recent case, the boys used their phone not only to commit a crime but to document it — an act that reflects
both moral decay and digital irresponsibility.
Learners must be taught that phones are tools for academic research and communication, not toys.
Schools should enforce strict policies on phone usage, while parents must monitor their children’s digital footprints.
A child with data but no guidance is vulnerable to the darkest corners of the internet, where they are exposed to unfiltered content, pornography and harmful social media trends.
Without proper oversight, phones become tools of destruction rather than instruments of learning.
Schools must tighten their grip on discipline
No institution is immune to indiscipline and assuming “it will not happen here” is a dangerous gamble.
School heads, counsellors and teachers must work collectively to reinforce school rules, especially during the examination period.
Random checks, mentorship programmes and counselling can go a long way in curbing delinquency.
Parents, too, must remain vigilant.
They should monitor not only what their children are doing online but also who they are associating with.
The home must reinforce the values taught at school, such as respect and responsibility.
Maturity is not mischief
Writing public examinations is a sign of academic growth, not moral exemption.
Candidates must understand that they are still learners under the guidance of teachers.
The notion that one can “sign out” of school with a bang — through wild parties, vandalism or sexual misconduct — is not only immature but self-destructive.
Academic transition should be marked by dignity, not disgrace.
Peer pressure is a powerful force
Learners must be encouraged to associate with friends who are academically focused and morally upright.
Schools can support this by promoting positive role models and discouraging cliques that glorify rebellion.
Let justice and guidance prevail
The involvement of the police and counsellors in the recent case is a necessary step towards justice and healing.
But prevention is better than cure.
Schools must be proactive, not reactive.
Discipline should not be feared — it should be embraced as a safeguard for learners’ futures.
As candidates sit their public exams, let them remember that their behaviour today shapes their tomorrow. Let schools and parents unite to protect the promise of education from being tarnished by excitement gone wrong. Every candidate deserves to finish their exams with pride, not shame.
Gabriel Manyeruke is an author and educator at Wise Owl High School in Marondera. Contact details: 0774122288/ [email protected]
