An 18-year-old Form 4 pupil allegedly took home a Mathematics Paper 2 answer sheet after the school headmaster refused to take it because he had not paid $5 transport fee to take the scripts to the Zimbabwe School Examinsations Council (Zimsec) offices.
By Jairos Saunyama
Mupfururirwa Secondary School headmaster, Patrick Kanda is reportedly under investigation by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry.
He is being accused of gross misconduct after he refused to take Simbarashe Chibaringa’s answer sheet, before telling him to take the papers home.
Mashonaland East provincial education director, Christopher Chihota confirmed the incident, adding the headmaster would face disciplinary action.
“It is unfortunate that the child has been punished in this way. The matter was reported to one of my deputies because I was out of office. However, this is gross misconduct and the school head committed a serious offence that needs disciplinary action. He (Kanda) is a substantive head and has already been charged,” he said.
“The fact that the pupil took home the scripts and stayed with them for days automatically means he was penalised.
The headmaster operated illegally by charging a fee to transport exam papers, as well as to punish the child in such a way. As the ministry, we did not approve the charging of an extra transport fee, and the school, as an examination centre, has the capacity to ferry exam papers to Zimsec.”
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According to a report seen by this paper, on November 4 this year, Chibaringa sat for his O Level Mathematics Paper 2.
After the exam, it is reported that Kanda ordered the invigilator, identified as Tsodzo, not to collect the pupil’s answer sheet, as he had not paid the transport fee.
Kanda reportedly told the pupil that he would take the papers himself [pupil] to the Zimsec offices after paying the $5.
Chibaringa then took the exam papers and answer script home. On November 7, he returned the papers and paid the $5 and was given a receipt.
He then took the receipt to the headmaster, who told him that he could not take his papers to Zimsec because time had lapsed.
On November 11, Chibaringa reported the matter at Masasa Police Station in Chivhu, who then alerted district schools inspector, Emmanuel Kwenda.
It is reported that Kwenda then took the papers to Zimsec before charging Kanda for his antics.
Chihota condemned the headmaster’s actions and said the affected pupil had been robbed of his future.
“This is uncalled for. I thought he was an acting headmaster, only to learn that he is a substantive one. He faces serious charges. In this case, what he did (charging transport fee) is not recognised by government,” he said.
“As for now, I am waiting for the documents from the district (Chivhu) then set up a hearing committee. After the hearing committee process, I will then make my recommendations and leave the matter in the hands of the head of the ministry in Harare, who has the final say.”
In October last year, a Form 4 pupil at Mweyamutsvene Mission in Manicaland province, was barred from writing his English and Commerce examinations by the headmaster, who accused him of coming to school barefooted.
