'We used wrong curriculum,' says headmaster

PARENTS with children attending Thornhill Satellite Primary School in Gutu's Chatsworth area are calling for the dismissal of school head James Munyaradzi over poor results amid allegations that the school had a zero percent pass rate in 2013 Grade Seven results.

Parents are calling for Munyaradzi's head alleging that he has failed to erect any structures for the school since its inception in 2001 and the school has been firing blanks in Grade Seven results.

The school which is operating from a farm house has no other infrastructure, save for three toilets used by both teachers and pupils.

Parents are concerned why there has not been any structure built when they donated building material that include bricks, cement and door frames, among others.

A parent with two children doing Grade Two and Three said Munyaradzi's management left a lot to be desired as there has not been any progress since he assumed leadership at the school.

We are concerned with the state of affairs at our primary school at inception the school used to produce good results but that has since changed, for two consecutive years, the school has been scoring zero percent pass rate," said a parent who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.

"It is surprising to note that pupils are not passing when the school received text books from UNICEF five years back. What boggles our minds is that the same school has been producing good results under the same head s leadership. He is no longer

performing well and deserves to be demoted or transferred," filmed a parent

A former councillor for the ward under which the school falls. Alexio Chagweda also alleged that he donated cement and other building material to the school but nothing has been built to date.

"I am very cross about what is happening at Thornhill Primary. When you donate something, you will be looking forward to development. I expected to see a meaningful change and an improvement in the pass rate. I donated 14 bags of cement in 2011. 43 in 2012 and nine bags in 2013 but I don't know how they were used. Former House of Assembly member Nod Mandebvu also donated building material but there is no new building up to now. I am very cross with the school head and we no longer see eye to eye because of that issue. We call for his dismissal," said Chagweda

However, contacted for comment Munyaradzi dismissed the allegations and accused some parents and teachers at the school of jeopardising his job.

"I am very clean in this whole issue. I know some teachers and parents are plotting against me and want me fired from the position. These are mere power struggles. They are some parents who feel that my deputy who was acting head when I was on leave last year deserves to be given the position," said Munyaradzi over the phone without mentioning the identity of the teacher.

He however admitted that parents were concerned about the failure rate at the school but attributed the problem to his juniors who he accused of using the wrong curriculum.

"I can confirm that we failed to produce a single pass this year. The issue is still under investigations, as I speak, my junior who briefly took over the reins of the school when I was on leave is the one to blame. He was using a wrong syllabus to teach Grade Seven pupils and I think it is a deliberate ploy to tarnish my reputation.

"I have been a Grade Seven teacher for many years and producing good results. My record is excellent; you can do your homework and make some investigations at schools in Gutu where I worked before coming to this school I will stand my ground if asked by my bosses," he said.

Efforts to contact the provincial education officials were fruitless.