Parents cry foul over penalty fees

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 12:39:10 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA

PARENTS of pupils at Matero Boys Secondary School in Lusaka have described as torture the K250 demand by school management from each pupil as a punishment for defacing the ablution block.

According to letters signed by the head teacher Mrs. Petridah Manongo, parents have been asked to pay K250 for 2.5 litres of oil paint for the ablution block littered with profanities directed at female teachers.

Mrs Manongo said in a letter that the move was aimed at restraining pupils from repeating the same behaviour.

“As a school we cannot condone such behaviour. We need to put a stop to this, and because of the indiscipline portrayed and the vandalism of the wall by engraving, you as the parent are to pay K250 for paint,” the letter read in part. The head teacher said it was unfortunate in that the school emphasized morality and discipline.

But some of the pupils’ parents have complained that the punishment was harsh and wondered where the school would take the rest of the money because only few litres of paint could be used to paint the affected building.

“We are not refusing to pay but our concern is on what the management have come up with because Matero Boys has got about 14 classes with each accommodating 40 pupils.

‘‘This will mean that if each pupil is made to pay K250, then the school will raise about K140,000, and where will the rest of the money go?” some parents said.

The Ministry of General Education said they had not received a report from the school.