Grade 2 girl runs amok

A GRADE Two pupil at Mutanda Primary School in Sakubva high-density suburb on Tuesday ran amok and displayed violent behaviour which left teachers and fellow pupils in fear.

The female pupil is alleged to have been attacked by a bout of spells or hysteria. She clobbered other pupils in her class. It took a struggle to subdue her, as she acted as if she was possessed.

Education authorities confirmed the incident, which is a second one this year involving the same pupil.

The school's headmistress, one Mrs Chikwangwani, described the pupil's behaviour as odd, adding that she was failing to ascertain whether the girl was possessed or was just being mischievous.

Said the head: "The child portrays abnormal behaviour, which we do not expect from someone as young as her. We are failing to understand whether she is possessed or is just being mischievous. She suddenly falls into bouts of hysteria and becomes aggressive towards other pupils and the teacher.

"She behaves like that for a few minutes and becomes normal again. When we ask her why she would have beaten others up, she simply says her classmates would have provoked her."

Mrs Chikwangwani said the school was yet to deliberate on a way forward.

"So far, we have just asked the parents to go and apologise to the pupil's teacher," she said.

Mutare District Education Officer Mr Nathaniel Machini said they had received the report from Mutanda Primary School and investigations were underway.

"We are still deliberating on a way forward, but the child needs to be attended to by a psychologist to try and establish what the problem is because it happened again in June.

"Had it been a once-off incident, we were not going to be worried, but the recurrence of the same problem makes it important for us to take the issue seriously. Our duty is to mould these children and assist them. I hear she is quite an intelligent pupil and so she needs help," he said.

Asked whether the child would continue attending classes at the school despite her violent behaviour, Mr Machini said if her parents insist on keeping her there, she would have to stay.

"Transferring the child to another school is not a long-term solution because the other schools may reject her as well. Rather, she should be helped so that she acts normal. If the parents want her to stay at the school we will not stop them. The most important thing now is to ensure that the child gets help. We also need to know if the child behaves the same way while at home," he said.

Efforts to hear the parents' side of the story were fruitless as they bolted from the school when approached for comment. It was drama, as the parents took to their heels with their daughter in tow. They had to use a small gate and ran through the Elise Gledhill High School yard in their desperate bid to avoid an interview with The Manica Post.

Parents with children at the school expressed concern over the child's behaviour, saying they now fear for their children's safety.

"This child's behaviour is peculiar and we are afraid that she may harm innocent pupils. Administrators at Mutanda Primary School should find a lasting solution to this problem. We are told that at one point she bit the teacher and it is alleged that whenever she bites you, the wound takes long to heal. We need sanity in schools so that when we are not with our children we have the assurance that they are safe," said one parent who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another parent who witnessed the drama when the parents were fleeing from the news crew pointed an accusing finger at the child's parents.

"These people know what is wrong with their child and that is why they ran away. If they really had nothing to hide, then why did they run away from the news crew? Their behaviour shows that they do not need help. They want whatever is haunting their child to remain a secret," the parent said.