News / Education
Headmaster dismissed over poor results
18 Mar 2014 at 07:29hrs | Views
THE headmaster of Thornhill Primary School in Chatsworth, Gutu, has allegedly been transferred or dismissed from work altogether over poor examination results.
James Munyaradzi allegedly gave in to mounting pressure from parents during a recent school development committee meeting.
"Who told you that I have been relieved of my duties? Let me come and see you tomorrow so that I can tell you what is happening at the school," said a jittery Munyaradzi yesterday.
When Chronicle pinned him down to expand his response he said: "If there are people who are happy with my dismissal then I will go back to that school by force. I would want you to furnish me with names of those bogus parents who have supplied you with the information."
However, parents told Chronicle they were fed up with the head for failing to produce good results.
A member of the school development committee who requested anonymity said the school was now being led by an acting head after Munyaradzi's ouster was endorsed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
"Munyaradzi succumbed to pressure from parents on Thursday during an SDC meeting. He surrendered all the books to the acting head.
"His sin is that the school has failed to produce a single pass at Grade Seven for three consecutive years. Under his leadership, the school has become a laughing stock in Masvingo and entire country because of poor results," said the SDC member.
The parents alleged that Munyaradzi was arrogant, averse to their advice and would bully SDC members.
"He had developed a tendency of firing and coopting members of the SDC whenever he wanted without following procedures. He does not listen to our grievances as parents," fumed another parent.
Some said parents in the area have transferred their children to other schools citing poor infrastructure and results at the school.
"Many parents have resorted to sending their children to other schools, which are however, very far from their homesteads. They are doing this because for the past three years Thornhill Primary School has been producing zero percent pass rate at Grade Seven. That is not acceptable considering that parents find it hard to raise school fees," said a parent identified as Mai Mano.
"There is no meaningful infrastructure that he built since he took over. This is despite the fact that we have been paying building fund. Now that he has gone, we are relieved we will have a positive change."
Masvingo Deputy Provincial Education Director Andrew Chikwange said: "While it is too early to say Munyaradzi has been fired or not, I can confirm there is a problem we are presently dealing with.
"We hope we will prevail over the issue very soon. It is true that, of late, Thornhill Primary School has failed to record a pass at Grade Seven and that worries us because other satellite schools are recording progress."
James Munyaradzi allegedly gave in to mounting pressure from parents during a recent school development committee meeting.
"Who told you that I have been relieved of my duties? Let me come and see you tomorrow so that I can tell you what is happening at the school," said a jittery Munyaradzi yesterday.
When Chronicle pinned him down to expand his response he said: "If there are people who are happy with my dismissal then I will go back to that school by force. I would want you to furnish me with names of those bogus parents who have supplied you with the information."
However, parents told Chronicle they were fed up with the head for failing to produce good results.
A member of the school development committee who requested anonymity said the school was now being led by an acting head after Munyaradzi's ouster was endorsed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
"Munyaradzi succumbed to pressure from parents on Thursday during an SDC meeting. He surrendered all the books to the acting head.
"His sin is that the school has failed to produce a single pass at Grade Seven for three consecutive years. Under his leadership, the school has become a laughing stock in Masvingo and entire country because of poor results," said the SDC member.
The parents alleged that Munyaradzi was arrogant, averse to their advice and would bully SDC members.
"He had developed a tendency of firing and coopting members of the SDC whenever he wanted without following procedures. He does not listen to our grievances as parents," fumed another parent.
Some said parents in the area have transferred their children to other schools citing poor infrastructure and results at the school.
"Many parents have resorted to sending their children to other schools, which are however, very far from their homesteads. They are doing this because for the past three years Thornhill Primary School has been producing zero percent pass rate at Grade Seven. That is not acceptable considering that parents find it hard to raise school fees," said a parent identified as Mai Mano.
"There is no meaningful infrastructure that he built since he took over. This is despite the fact that we have been paying building fund. Now that he has gone, we are relieved we will have a positive change."
Masvingo Deputy Provincial Education Director Andrew Chikwange said: "While it is too early to say Munyaradzi has been fired or not, I can confirm there is a problem we are presently dealing with.
"We hope we will prevail over the issue very soon. It is true that, of late, Thornhill Primary School has failed to record a pass at Grade Seven and that worries us because other satellite schools are recording progress."
Source - chronicle
