Gutu High School Denies Boarders, Food For 3 Weeks Over Unpaid Fees

GUTU High School has, for the past three weeks, refused scores of students food in a bid to force their parents to settle tuition fee arrears.

The decision has forced affected boarders to rely on the little supplies they brought from home while others are getting food handouts from surrounding villages.

School head Mirirai Mutanda confirmed the development and said he was only implementing an agreement reached by the school development committee in February.

“It is true that some students are not eating from the dining hall because they have not finished paying schools fees,” said Mutanda.

“It is not fair that some students go into the dining hall and eat the food that has been paid for by other students.”

He added: “This is not my personal position. I’m implementing a resolution made by parents at the annual general meeting.

“They agreed that only those who have finished paying fees should be allowed to eat from the dinning hall.”

The district education officer for Gutu, Christian Chirikure, expressed shock at the move.

He described it as “inhuman, unlawful and unacceptable”, adding that his office would order the headmaster to stop the practice forthwith.

“This should be stopped forthwith,” said Chirikure.

“It’s unacceptable to punish pupils like that. I will personally deliver the order to the headmaster for the practice to be stopped forthwith.” source-newzimbabwe

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photo-Education Minister Lazarus Dokora