Thandolwethu Moyo
Reporters from this publication have observed that pupils from Milton High School in Bulawayo are spending too much time in game arcades.
Instead on being in class, students from this once prestigious school are found in game arcades having absconded class, in full school uniform, playing games.
These arcades are found around the CBD on 9th Avenue and R. Mugabe Way next to a shop that sells traditional medicines, there is another at the Parkade Center and several others around town. These arcades offer computer games such as Fifa, Need for Speed, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Roblox, Half Life and many others.
The most popular amongst these boys are Fifa, a football game, Grand Theft Auto and Need for Speed, racing cars game.
Last Friday this reporter came across form 2 Milton High School boys in full school uniform, a sky-blue shirt, grey shorts, navy blue and white striped tie and grey socks at a gaming arcade located on Fife Street and 8th Avenue during school hours.
They were busy playing games.
When asked why they were not at school but rather playing games, the boys asserted that they had been sent back home for non-payment of school fees.
Zim GBC News this week visited the school to ascertain the truth behind the boys’ claims, since the Ministry of Education does not allow school authorities to send away pupils for non-payment of fees but rather deal with the parent.
The school authorities, represented by the Deputy Headmaster, Melusi Mazibuko, denied the allegations when asked to confirm.
On the contrary a parent whose child attends Milton High School confirmed that her child returned home on that particular day having been sent away for non-payment of fees.
“I can confirm that indeed children were sent home especially the schools opening week, my boy came back around twelve in the afternoon, having been denied entry into school.”
One of the form two students who was found playing at the arcade said,
“The school teacher sent us home because we had not paid fees for some terms now.”
In a veiled confirmation the Deputy Head for the school, Malusi Mazibuko somehow agreed that the school had sent away students for non-payment of school fees. He was quoted saying
“Yes, we did send some students back home, sometime last week, I think it was on Tuesday, for non-payment of fees, but we had told them to go and bring their parents or guardians so that we discuss the issue of fees.”
That is still sending away students for non-payment of school fees.
On one hand, non- payment of schools fees by students jeopardises the smooth running of schools as they face severe financial challenges and on the other places children in dangers such as spending school time in game arcades.
Some shops located a what was once a departmental store found on 8th Avenue and Fife street Bulawayo are notorious for selling Drugs and Substances such as mbanje, vapes, crystal meth, and many more. The place is notorious again as a meeting point for gay men and lesbians.
About a year ago, two of this publication reporters spoke to teenagers who concurred that the place referred to as H&S is a meeting and chill spot for various activities. These ‘activities’ include arcade games and buying of drugs.
Pupils from Milton High School have joined the chill spot and having sent away for non-payment of fees, they gather at the chill spot.
“We are failing to run the school smoothly. Out of 734 students we have, only a third is paid up to date. This makes it hard to run the school” Mazibuko said.
“We are facing a-rock-and-a-hard place situation.”
He was at pains in pointing out that the school was reeling under debt and in financial constraints.
“If our enrollment was at peak, we would be able to pay our bills. We have since drilled boreholes as we could not keep up with council (City Council) water bills.”
He bemoaned the fact that the school enrollment had fallen and the school was forced to enrol those students who are from way out of the school zone such as Cowdray Park, Luvuve, Entumbane, Nkulumane and Mzilikazi.
“Most if these children are on BEAM, and BEAM hasn’t paid for over two years.”
Basic Education Assistance Module, BEAM, is a government program that assists those pupils whose parents or guardians are unable to pay school fees. In some quarters BEAM is hailed as having assisted many students, but in reality, the Module has only exacerbated financial woes in schools such as Milton High School.
Mazibuko also mentioned that the School Development Committee (SDC) is failing to bring parents who are not paid up to book. Actually about 70% of pupils have not paid fees and the SDC tried to rectify the anomaly but to no vail.
He also mentioned that some boys leave the school without permission and use undesignated points through the fence which has all but fallen down due to wear and tear. There are only two grounds men who man the school which sits on vast land with the fence worn down, with falling down buildings, unkempt grass, dried lawn on the sports fields, rusted corrugated roof tops.
The Deputy Headmaster said maybe parents are failing to pay for their children because it is expense for them on transport since many come from the Western Areas.
A pupil from Cowdray Park or Nkulumane has to part with about 40 Rand per day which is equivalent to US$2. This adds up to US$40 per month and $120 per term. This amount is without lunch.
Mazibuko said this could be affecting parents on payment of school fees.
Asked on how the school will act now that they have been alerted on what their pupils are up to, Mazibuko responded.
“While we try to instil discipline here at school, many people have a negative perception when pupils are out of school. Many people think since the boy is in Milton High School uniform, he will be dealt with by the school authorities, but that child belongs to the community. These kids do not misbehave at school but only when they are out of this fence. When these pupils see their teachers they run away or stop their mischief.”
He said the school has on several times tried to engage the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) but its not working. Police Officers tend to turn a blind eye.
He said many residents do not want to participate in chastening the boys, they cannot even talk to them about their mischief while in school uniform in town, but are quick to rush to the press when bad things have been done by an individual in a Milton High School uniform.
This has put the school in disrepute.
“On several occasions I have asked these boys to remove the uniform first and then they can go and misbehave, but that is not happening.”
He however promised to put in place a plan which will see school authorities making a follow up and visit these arcades and ask the owners not to allow pupils from Milton High School when they are in uniform.
While this interview was taking place, officers from the Zimbabwe Electricity, Transmission and Distribution Company, ZEDTC, arrived and switched off the school for a two months debt of
US$ 14000.00
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