Parents bay for headmaster's blood

PARENTS with children learning at Tahangana High School in Mangwe District are demanding the removal of the "jingles" headmaster from the school.

The parents have threatened to withdraw their children from the school if headmaster, Norman Muvimi, is not transferred at the beginning next term.

Muvimi courted controversy when he allegedly detained teachers from morning up to about 7PM daily to "retrain" them.

The teachers said the school head was introducing a new teaching method, PLAP, which he wanted them to adopt.

Parents were not happy with the headmaster's "retraining" of teachers which was taking place at the expense of normal lessons.

The School's Development Association chairperson, Bupelo Tshuma, said a meeting was held with parents to try and resolve the matter amicably.

"The parents still maintain that they want the headmaster moved. They're complaining that their children have been missing out on lessons. It appears that Muvimi has introduced teaching methods which are unfavourable to teachers, pupils and parents.

"Parents are demanding that the headmaster should be removed by the beginning of next term. They've threatened to withdraw their children if this doesn't happen. The parents said Muvimi can only remain at the school if he changes his administrative methods," said Tshuma.

The councillor for the area, Phakamisa Sibanda, said education officials and security agents advised the community and the school authorities to resolve the matter amicably. However, the efforts have been fruitless.

Clr Sibanda said the headmaster had tried to hold meetings with parents and teachers to resolve the matter but all parties were hostile towards him. They accused Muvimi of poor administration.

Mandla Maphosa, from Ngwanyana area whose child attends the school, said children would fail if Muvimi was allowed to remain at the school.

"If children are going to miss lessons for weeks just because of the headmaster's doings then he has to go. He will run the school to the ground. I'm transferring my child who is in Form 3 because if I leave her there she will fail her O-level exams next year.

"This headmaster is a problem and he was rejected at the previous school. We don't want him here because he is terrorising children and teachers," said Maphosa.

Mangwe District Education Officer, Headman Mpofu, said education officials from the provincial offices were set to travel to Tahangana High School tomorrow to address community members in a bid to resolve the problem.

He said efforts were being made to have the conflict resolved before the opening of schools for the third term.

Mpofu referred further questions on the matter to the Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director, Tumisang Thabela.

Thabela, however, said she was unaware of the goings on at the school as she is on leave.

A group of pupils from the school recently held a demonstration against their headmaster after he stopped them from attending a sporting event despite having paid sports levies.

The disgruntled pupils were also irked after missing out on lessons while the headmaster was holding meetings with teachers.

Teachers at the school also wrote a petition against Muvimi complaining about the harsh treatment he was subjecting them to.

Efforts by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education district officials to resolve the matter at a meeting held recently were unsuccessfully.

Muvimi transferred to Tahangana High School at the beginning of the second term after he was moved from Mambale High School following complaints from the staff members there.

He allegedly composed 44 jingles while at Mambale High and forced teachers and pupils to recite them each day claiming that the jingles would help improve the school's pass rate.

Education officials tried to justify Muvimi's administration processes without luck.

Teachers at his old and new school claimed that he had a habit of insulting them in the presence of parents and pupils.