News / Local
Showdown at Solusi Adventist High School!
06 Sep 2011 at 05:59hrs | Views
IF ALLEGATIONS of the detention of pupils because of non-payment of levies are proven true, relations between parents and the administration of Solusi Adventist High School are set to sour.
Allegations leveled against the Adventist school are that on the last day of school last term, pupils who had not fully paid a $250 bus levy were held by the school authorities. According to a parent who claimed his child was detained, the levy is payable over three terms. He said they were told to pay $100, $78 and $77 for first, second and third term respectively.
"That money, we were told shall be channeled towards the purchasing of a school bus. Children who have not paid that money are detained until their bills are cleared. My child is one of those who have not paid. It is us the parents who should suffer if we have not paid fees for our children. The children have a right to education and should not be victimized because of non-payment of fees," said the parent whose name is withheld by the Weekly Agenda for the protection of the pupil.
The parent added that the perceived detention is against the directive from the Ministry of Education which prohibits schools from detaining, suspending or expelling pupils because of non payment of fees and levies. The ministry advises schools to take legal action against the parents instead.
Solusi High School charges $370 boarding fees per term.
Speaking on conditi on of anonymity, a top official from the school said the allegations are not true as pupils started leaving the boarding school on Wednesday and no child was detained or victimized in any way because they had not paid fees.
"It is not true that the authorities at Solusi Adventist High School detained pupils because of non-payment of the bus levy. In actual fact we are owed a lot of money by parents but we do not send the children back home to collect the fees because we believe the responsibility lies with the parent and the children should not suffer. The children that are at the school now are waiting for their parents. We can drive to Solusi so that you can verify," said the source.
The Weekly Agenda also learnt from a student at Solusi Adventist High School that next term, clearance shall be conducted at the Adventist Book Center (ABC) in Bulawayo to avoid 'disturbances.'
'We were told that next term when schools open, we have to pass through ABC so that they can check whether fees have been paid up. If everything is okay they will clear us to go to school," said the student.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Senator David Coltart on the matter were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered. Senator Coltart has reiterated on many platforms that his ministry does not condone the exploitation of parents by schools.
Allegations leveled against the Adventist school are that on the last day of school last term, pupils who had not fully paid a $250 bus levy were held by the school authorities. According to a parent who claimed his child was detained, the levy is payable over three terms. He said they were told to pay $100, $78 and $77 for first, second and third term respectively.
"That money, we were told shall be channeled towards the purchasing of a school bus. Children who have not paid that money are detained until their bills are cleared. My child is one of those who have not paid. It is us the parents who should suffer if we have not paid fees for our children. The children have a right to education and should not be victimized because of non-payment of fees," said the parent whose name is withheld by the Weekly Agenda for the protection of the pupil.
The parent added that the perceived detention is against the directive from the Ministry of Education which prohibits schools from detaining, suspending or expelling pupils because of non payment of fees and levies. The ministry advises schools to take legal action against the parents instead.
Solusi High School charges $370 boarding fees per term.
Speaking on conditi on of anonymity, a top official from the school said the allegations are not true as pupils started leaving the boarding school on Wednesday and no child was detained or victimized in any way because they had not paid fees.
"It is not true that the authorities at Solusi Adventist High School detained pupils because of non-payment of the bus levy. In actual fact we are owed a lot of money by parents but we do not send the children back home to collect the fees because we believe the responsibility lies with the parent and the children should not suffer. The children that are at the school now are waiting for their parents. We can drive to Solusi so that you can verify," said the source.
The Weekly Agenda also learnt from a student at Solusi Adventist High School that next term, clearance shall be conducted at the Adventist Book Center (ABC) in Bulawayo to avoid 'disturbances.'
'We were told that next term when schools open, we have to pass through ABC so that they can check whether fees have been paid up. If everything is okay they will clear us to go to school," said the student.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Senator David Coltart on the matter were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered. Senator Coltart has reiterated on many platforms that his ministry does not condone the exploitation of parents by schools.
Source - weekendagenda
