Chaos erupted at Anglican church- owned St. David’s Bonda high school yesterday, marking the beginning of third term school calendar, when a group of students were allegedly barred from entering the school premises due to non-payment of a $30 donation.The donation was meant to purchase classroom tiles but many parents and guardians were unable to afford it. As the students arrived at school from their different towns they were met with a locked gate. Panic and confusion set in, as the students realized that they would not be allowed into their dormitories. A parent who spoke to this paper on condition of anonymity highlighted that the students were given donation forms on closing day last term and most children together with their parents failed to raise the money as it was not on school invoice.“I am a parent with a child at St. David’s Bonda high school in Mutasa district. On closing day the students were given donation forms of US$30, and were ordered to go and beg for this money meant for dormitory tiles. As you know a donation is not forced, most children did not raise the required money. Today they have been ferried by school buses from different towns yet they became stranded upon reaching the school gate as they were denied entry. This money is not even on school invoice. Our School Development Committee (SDC) is milking our children’s pockets dry in the name of a donation and that is abuse,” fumed the parent.School Development Committee chairperson Hope Zemura when contacted for comment sang from a different hymn book. He accused parents of meddling in matters that only involve students and the school.“How could I allow students to board buses in Harare, Mutare and Rusape , only to refuse them entry into the school premises later?“Does students go to work or earn money? They were asked to account for sponsorship forms. Some did, some did not. I think parents involved themselves in an issue which in my opinion needed their daughters to address,” querried Zemura.He insisted that he never denied students entry into the school premises as he had many times assisted parents with children sitting for final examinations to write even when they have not fully paid school fees while the parent will be making a payment plan.“Students surrendered forms and whatever cash they got. There were no problems because there were very few learners needing to be cleared. Trouble started with third class of learners who claimed they had no money and no forms altogether. This created the belief that donations had been collected and the plan was now to convert them to personal use. Many parents claimed ignorance of the sponsorship forms with others promising to pay month-end. The last hurdle and most complicated was a parent who came in and answer questions meant for the child as to the whereabouts of the sponsorship form.“This is when total chaos ensued as words were exchanged back and forth about how the sponsorship form was not a product of the AGM, to which I answered and still maintained it was an executive decision of the SDC to try and raise funds from outside our normal catchment area. While it was a real struggle just like the fundraising on Consultation days, the figures will teach us all whether it was worth trying or should be permanently shelved. My prayer is if only parents could concede to our demands and we buy another truck of tiles,” he added. Zemura highlighted that during the AGM, that was held on June 04 this year, parents rejected the lowest proposed budget of US$666 per term but however this figure was shot down with parents ‘imposing’ a figure of US$597 towards the purchase of the tiles. He went on to say it was the learners who complained bitterly after the AGM about the state of dormitory floors and thought sponsorship forms were the way to go.Zemura said so far his committee had managed to raise US$7 000 which is enough to purchase thirty tonnes of tiles yet the school is need of another three sets of thirty tonnes tiles for completion.
