Record failure as pupils taught wrong O' Level syllabus

There was a record failure rate at Mandwandwe High School in Nkulumane, when a teacher allegedly taught the wrong Literature in English Syllabus.

Sources at the school said 65 of the 70 pupils who sat for the O' Level examination last year failed dismally.

The five who made it passed with Cs.

The parents were not amused.

"The HOD of the English and Literature Department, Mr Ndlovu taught the classes that failed.

It is a scandal that no one found out pupils were learning the wrong syllabus until the results came out.  Heads must roll, including that of the headmaster," said an angry parent.

"We have been told that the school is trying to hide the issue from education officials because it is a chargeable offence to teach the wrong syllabus. If the headmaster assessed this teacher's work, even once during the year, he would have discovered the mistake, if indeed it was one," said another parent.

Another source at the school said the pupils who failed passed English Language with flying colours, proving there were not dull.

"The pass rate was only 7,1 percent, the lowest the school has ever recorded since it was established in 1995. Strangely, it seems the authorities are more interested in covering their backs, instead of dealing with the issue for the benefit of pupils," said the source.

The headmaster Litmus Moyo was said to be out every time the school was called for comment.

Bulawayo Provincial Education Director (PED) Dan Moyo said his office was not aware of the issue.

"We have not been notified about such a thing. I can only comment after we have received a formal report," said Moyo.