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MP intervenes in school dispute

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MANGWE MP Edward Mkhosi has intervened to stop a feud at Makuzeze Primary School in Plumtree after three teachers protested against their forced transfers for alleged insubordination.

MANGWE MP Edward Mkhosi has intervened to stop a feud at Makuzeze Primary School in Plumtree after three teachers protested against their forced transfers for alleged insubordination.

REPORT BY PAMELA MHLANGA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Acting headmistress, Victoria Pasipanodya, reportedly wanted the teachers – Lieto Dube, Nontokozo Denda Nhimbo and Sindiso Ncube – transferred to another school after accusing them of undermining her authority.

Mkhosi yesterday told NewsDay that after he visited Plumtree and spoke to the district education officer (DEO) over the issue, he established that the feud was over the non-connection of electricity in the three teachers’ houses.

“All the teachers’ houses in the school have had electricity connected except the houses of those three particular teachers,” he said.

“The teachers felt that their houses were deliberately excluded because the headmistress was discriminating against them.”

Mkhosi said problems at the school were now reflecting on students’ performance as a recent report from the DEO for Mangwe, Headman Mpofu, showed that only one Grade Seven pupil, out of all who sat for this year’s examinations,  passed.

“This is because the teachers and the headmistress spend most of their time arguing instead of being concerned about the education of pupils,” he said.

Mkhosi said he had impressed on Mpofu that it would be unfair for Pasipanodya to forcibly transfer the teachers over personal differences.

Pasipanodya yesterday confirmed the feud and insisted the teachers would be forcibly transferred from the school before the beginning of the next term.

“The teachers will be transferred to other schools because there are issues such as their lack of respect for my authority,” she said.