A growing shortage of substantive school heads in parts of Manicaland is raising alarm among education stakeholders, with fears that prolonged leadership gaps could disrupt academic progress as schools prepare for a new term and key examinations later in the year.
Several schools across the province are currently being run by acting heads, a situation that teachers, parents and education experts say creates uncertainty, weakens accountability and affects long-term planning. The concern is particularly acute as learners under the Heritage-based Curriculum 5.0 approach critical assessment stages.
In response to the situation, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has invited applications from qualified educators to fill vacant headship posts in Mutare District, signalling efforts to address the growing leadership vacuum. Officials acknowledge that delays in appointing permanent heads can negatively affect school performance and exam readiness.
Schools in Mutare District affected by vacant headship posts include Chirowakamwe Primary, Rujeko Primary, Dangamvura Primary, Mambwere Primary, St Werburghs Primary, Sakubva 2 High, Karirwi High and St Theresa Gandai Secondary. In neighbouring Makoni District, institutions such as St Benedict High, John Cowie Primary, Toriro St Albans Primary, Yorkshire Primary and several others are also operating without substantive heads.
While progress has been made in some cases, including the recent appointment of a new head at Mavhudzi High School, other schools remain without leadership. At John Cowie Primary School in Rusape, the headship post has reportedly been vacant for more than a year, fuelling concerns about administrative delays and internal processes that have slowed the appointment of a permanent replacement.
Education sources say the absence of substantive heads often results in an accountability gap, as acting heads may lack the authority or mandate to implement long-term reforms or enforce performance standards. This, they argue, can lead to stagnation at a time when schools are already facing multiple challenges.
Ministry spokesperson Toungana Ndoro said acting appointments should not exceed three months, noting that substantive heads carry greater responsibility and accountability. He said the ministry has been actively appointing permanent school heads and pledged to urgently investigate reports of extended acting appointments in Manicaland.
As schools prepare to reopen for the first term, government officials have also reminded school authorities that no learner should be denied access to education because of unpaid fees. Parents have been urged to engage school administrators where financial difficulties exist, while schools have been instructed to follow the law regarding fees and levies.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director Richard Gabaza said preparations for the new term are at an advanced stage, with meetings being held to ensure uniform implementation of education programmes. He stressed that while parents have a responsibility to pay fees, learners’ rights to education must be protected.
Church-run schools have also reported readiness for the new term, with some institutions addressing infrastructure challenges such as overcrowding through new classroom blocks and hostel construction. Education authorities, meanwhile, continue to warn against practices such as providing false addresses to secure urban school places, citing learner welfare and safety concerns.
As the academic year begins, pressure is mounting on authorities to resolve leadership vacancies quickly to restore stability and ensure schools across Manicaland are well-positioned to deliver quality education.
