PARENTS at Kwekwe’s Fitchlea Primary School, the country’s best school based on Grade Seven results, have petitioned Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora to drop his blanket ban on conducting extra lessons for pupils.
BLESSED MHLANGA
At least 41 parents whose children are due to sit for Grade Seven public examinations this year held a highly-charged meeting over the weekend where they asked headmaster Douglas Kunze to defy Dokora’s directive and continue to provide extra lessons for their children.
Kunze told parents that he was unable to ask teachers at the school to conduct extra lessons because they had received instructions to stop such activities or risk being fired.
“As civil servants, we operate under directives which we cannot be allowed to breach and the standing directive is that we will not be allowed to conduct extra lessons at school or privately. I can only refer you to the district education officer if you wish to be addressed on this matter,” Kunze told the parents.
But School Development Association chairman Petros Shoko said the parents will approach ministry officials with the view of having the directive reversed.
“We achieved a 100% pass rate last year due to dedication by our teachers and provision of extra lessons went a long way in ensuring pupils were well prepared for the examinations. We will lead this effort to try and ensure that the decision is reversed,” Shoko said.
Speaking to NewsDay after the meeting, some parents said Dokora’s directive was likely to negatively affect the education system.
