Jatropha-poison Incident Puts School Authorities Under Scrutiny
Former Minister for Education David Coltart said that is is the duty of school authorities to ensure a safe environment for learners.
This comes after 59 Grade 4 pupils at Sigombe Primary School in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb were on Friday hospitalised after eating poisonous Jatropha fruits.
Coltart said that the school authorities could be liable for negligence. He said:
I have not read much into the details of the incident but depending on the circumstances, the school authorities may be answerable for negligence.
Jatropha is a plant that grows over a long time and it should have been noticed. A headmaster is responsible for ensuring that the children in his care are in a safe environment.
Reports indicate that all the affected children had been treated over the weekend and were safe.
