School head up for embezzling exam fees

By Nhau Mangirazi

A school headmaster at a Hurungwe secondary school head is up for embezzling funds paid towards the November Ordinary Level examination fees by a group of students.

The incident has deprived eight students the chance to sit for the crucial examinations.

Disgruntled parents and villagers say the school official, identified as Guni, is acting headmaster of Bakwa satellite school in the Mashonaland West area.

It could not be immediately established how much was embezzled although the money was meant for exam and center fees for the students.

One victim is a beneficiary of Campaign for Female Education, Camfed program that assist mostly underprivileged rural girls.

Gladys Moyo, a heartbroken parent, said she paid $110 for her son.

She added that they alerted education officers in Karoi in October when entry forms came but no action was taken to address the situation.

“I went to Karoi education offices where I told officers there but no action was taken urgently,” Moyo said.

Parents, who lodged a formal complaint with the Public Services Commission (PSC) this past week, are angry education officers took time to react, with one Mbasera, a PSC official demanding a “detailed report” first.

“We suspect that some senior education officers did not take this matter seriously and wanted to sweep it under the carpet besides depriving students a chance to write exams on time,” said one parent.

Hurungwe District Education Officer, one Gwanzura refused to comment on the matter saying he was busy.

“I am too busy to talk to you,” said Gwanzura before terminating the conversation

However, Mashonaland West acting provincial education officer Muchineripi Ndewere said a probe on the matter will be conducted soon.

“The case has been tabled in our offices and we have assigned local district officers to probe the incident and give us results as a matter of urgency,” he said. Radio VOP