By Terrence Mawawa, Gutu|A school headmaster here is demanding bribes from parents for form one places at the school,raising tension in the local community.
Chikwerengwe High School headmaster Ishmael Maundu is allegedly demanding bribes ranging from $10 to $20 so that pupils can obtain form 1 places at the school much to the disgruntlement of local parents, ZimEye has learnt. It is understood only 23 pupils have obtained form 1 places at the school out of the expected enrolment of 150 pupils.
Parents have written a petition to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to alert them on the development.
“We are now stranded because we are in the second week of the school term and the school headmaster is demanding bribes so that our children can obtain form 1 places .
“This is very disturbing and we hope the relevant ministry will immediately intervene.We are being asked to pay kickbacks ranging from $10 to $20 and in the rural areas that’s a lot of money ,” said a local parent who identified himself as Mrs Mupini.
Maundu is now under pressure from the local parents who are demanding his immediate transfer.
“The issue is complicated but let me say the enrolment is still very low .The local parents are accusing the headmaster of demanding bribes so that pupils can obtain form 1 places ,” said a staff member at the school.