The principal of Macholomochi Primary School in Gwanda District has come under fire over allegations of misusing school funds and turning classrooms into bird farms, among other misdemeanours, with ministry officials saying the case is under investigation.
The school principal, Mr Everson Senyoro, was also accused of abusing his subordinates and pupils and insulting community members. Parents of pupils studying at the school held a meeting last week where they called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter as they were not satisfied with the way the institution is being run.
Gwanda District Schools Inspector, Mr Siden Sibanda, confirmed the matter, saying the issue had been brought to the district office and was under investigation.
“This case is under investigation. I once sent inspectors and auditors to go and investigate the case. I have assured parents that once the investigations are completed we will inform them. We hope to develop the school and increase the success rate.
A resident, Mr Mkhululi Sibanda, said the school could not achieve any goals and development if the school principal was allowed to mismanage the school.
“Mr. Señoro has been in this school for several years and we have not seen any development. There is limited furniture in the classrooms, and the doors are broken. Years ago, a philanthropist donated cement to build a classroom building, but it is still at ground level as the money needed to build it was wasted,” he said. : “We need another principal who can develop our school for the better and improve our success rate.”
Another parent alleged that Mr Senyoro always asked for R70 to print mid-year examination papers but the money was never accounted for. As a result, many parents withdrew their children from the school, leaving the institution with few learners.
Local leader Mr Lovemore Ndlovu alleged that Mr Senyoro had no respect for anyone. He said that since he came to the school there has been no development and instead he claims he is misusing development funds.
“The school had a perimeter fence, toilets and there was a school flag. Now there is none, can we say we are a school without a national flag? When we pay fees and other money, we don’t get any receipts. It can be a miracle if our pass rate crosses five percent this year “As the leadership of this community, we want this man out of our school and our community. We are tired of being insulted and reminded that we are boring. He said that the majority of parents pulled their children from school because of the arrogance of the school principal.”
School Development Committee Chairman, Mr Mduduzi Mlilo, said they had done everything they could such as summoning the school principal for disciplinary committees and hearings but nothing had changed. He appealed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for assistance in this regard.
“This issue has been going on for a long time. The villagers did not have any kind words for Señoro as we, the Development and Cooperation Center, tried to sit with him to solve the problem to no avail. Our school has turned into a bird yard where the students now learn with the chicks and spend the school time feeding his chickens. We have long written letters seeking Señoro’s ouster. “It is time for him to leave our institution because he is of no use,” he added.
Efforts to obtain comment from the school principal were not successful. Sunday news
