Centre News Education Hub.
Gutu, Zimbabwe — The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has launched investigation into Hwiru Primary School after parents allege misappropriation of funds for a Victoria Falls trip, accusing administration and School Development Committe of conspiring to siphon school resources.
MPOSE Gutu District Schools Inspector (DSI), Ronald Muganhu confirmed the development.
“We received such reports and we have commenced investigations which are still in preliminary stages so we can’t say anything at the moment,” Muganhu said.
Investigations by the Centre news revealed that the issue came out after a whistle blower revealed that the administration and SDC members accompanied school children to Victoria Falls allegedly allocating themselves hefty allowances for the trip and pocketed allowances during preparatory meetings held prior to travelling.
According to the Education Ministry approved budget document of the trip in the hands of this publication the total cost was US$ 28 928.00 paid by 241 students at $120 per pupil to cover transport, accommodation and subsistence.
Part of the money according to other documents at hand indicate that it was used to pay $340 to 6 SDC members and an individual only identified as Deputy who pocketed $400 for travelling and subsistence allowances for the trip.
15 Teachers including the Deputy Head of the school whose name is not mentioned pocketed $180 for the trip. The trip 7 organizing committee including some members of the SDC also received $50 for sitting allowances for organizing the trip and another 7 members comprising the same organizing team plus two new members the headmaster $160 while the deputy and another member received $120 and $80 respectively.
On top of that they got $130 for mobile phones air time for the 3 day trip.
The Trip had budgeted $14 460 to hire 3 buses from Stallion Coaches for the 241 students but insiders say they later resorted to hire two cheap buses from Runyararo primary school in Masvingo and Alheit Chin’ombe High school from Bhasera Gutu.
The surplus for the 3rd bus remained unaccounted for according to reliable sources.
The issued was received with shock and anger by parents after the trip who demanded accountability and justification for the heft allowances and inclusion of the SDC in a student educational trip.
“This is a clear case of fraud the admin and SDC must be held accountable and explained why they allocated such huge amounts of allowances for themselves for a simple educational trip that is supposed to benefit our children academically” said a parent who declined to be named.
The School head, Atinos Tonodzai confirmed the payment of the allowance alluding that they was nothing inappropriate about that.
“Ye its true we had a trip to Victoria falls and our staff and SDC received allowances as usual , this has been the norm and we don’t see anything wrong we hear there are complaints but the trip went well and everything was above board,” said Tonhodzai.
But some parents questioned why the SDC was part of the trip since it was just an educational one which required students and their teachers.
Investigations by this paper revealed that there is no mandatory and clear policy that allows SDC members to travel with students during educational trips.
MPOSE Spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said the issue has to be agreed on school to School basis.
“The policy has to be agreed by parent’s assembly. It’s on a school by school basis,” Ndoro said.
Some parents however said the SDC did not consult them to agree over their inclusion to the trip.
The Responsible Authority (RA) of the School, Gutu Rural District Council (GRDC) said they have not received a formal report although the issue is trending in the circles and corridors of Mpandawana Growth point.
“We have not yet received a report about that,” said GRDC Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Mtembwa.
