The headmaster at Muvhami Primary School in Makonde district is reportedly holding on to the Grade 7 results of former pupils until payment of outstanding tuition fees.
Some of the pupils wrote their examinations as far back as 2014 and should have completed Advanced Level by now.
A disgruntled parent, whose child was recently denied results, told NewZimbabwe.com on Friday, the school headmaster identified as Elson Maturure was demanding outstanding schools fees in US dollars instead of local bond notes at a 1:1 rate. The parent said:
My child sat for their Grade 7 exams last year while her school fees were in arrears. As a small-scale tobacco farmer expecting to go to the auction sales floor and get paid, I recently engaged the school authorities with a payment plan.
However, the glitch is that the headmaster insists we pay the outstanding amounts equivalent to US dollars at a 1:1 rate which l, and other parents, think is unfair and unrealistic. For example, l owed $90 in bond notes, which means l am expected to pay US$90.
Meanwhile, Education Ministry communications director Taungana Ndoro told NewZimbabwe.com that school officials do not wield any power or authority to withhold pupils’ examinations results.
Ndoro said schools that are owed tuition fees should pursue other humane means, including legal, to recover the money than resort to withholding exam results.