Parents of students at F.D. Roosevelt Girls High School in Harare are speaking out against what they claim are unfair practices by the school administration. According to one parent, the school’s governing body has been charging excessive fees without proper transparency or accountability.

The parent alleges that the school charged top-up fees for Term 1 without parental approval, which was only discussed and agreed upon at an AGM held at the end of March 2025. “How do we pay top-up for a term that was over by the time we had the AGM?” the parent questions.

The parent also claims that the school has been charging a special levy for a hostel that was gutted by fire in 2021, despite parents already having paid for its reconstruction in previous years. “Is this not a scam?” the parent asks.

The parent also raises concerns about the school head’s alleged physical abuse of a laboratory assistant in 2023, which reportedly resulted in a court case and fine. However, the head teacher was neither suspended nor dismissed, sparking concerns about accountability.

Parents are also frustrated with the school’s locked gates, which they claim restrict access and create unnecessary barriers. Additionally, there are concerns about the withdrawal of amenities like refrigerators from teachers’ staff rooms and the alleged mismanagement of funds collected for solar installations.

The parent highlights the school’s neglect of infrastructure, including broken window panes in classrooms, which makes learning conditions difficult, especially during winter.

Parents are calling for an investigation into the school’s governance and financial management. With whistle-blower anonymity being a priority, they hope to bring about transparency and accountability in the school’s administration.

The Ministry of Education’s response to these allegations will be crucial in determining the future of governance and accountability in Zimbabwean schools. Will they take action to address these concerns, or will the status quo prevail?

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