Kuwadzana headmaster splits classes into 2: Those who paid and those who have not paid
Parents at Kuwadzana No. 1 Council Primary School have been left stunned after the school headmaster announced a new class-splitting policy. According to a letter dated 15 May 2025, the school is dividing pupils into two categories — those who have paid their US$40 fees and those who have not.
Headmaster F. Chifamba informed parents that:
“Vana vachaiswa muma Class nokubhadhara kwavakaita mari yechikoro. Vana vakabhadhara mari yechikoro yeterm ino vacharamba vaina teacher wavo vari muclass yavo vega. Vasina kubhadhara vachaiswa mu class yavo vega.”
The school has also given parents the option to pay half the amount — US$20 — and clear the rest before the end of May.
Parents react to class separation
The move sparked debate across social media, with many parents accusing the school of practising discrimination.
On X, one user, @mehlulisizwe, posted:
“Where is Inclusive Education here!! This is discrimination. I think Zim teachers need to realise that learners’ best interests must be the starting point of every decision made about them.”
Another user, @Vegula_wacho, wrote:
“Poor decision from the Headmaster, this will affect the pupils at most (stigmatisation). Why not engage the parents directly and constructively?”
Some, however, backed the school. @maras_nuel said:
“But how can you stay in Harare and still fail to pay like $40 school fees? Ko vari kumusha vozodii…”
Government policy on school fees
This decision comes barely a day after the government issued a warning to schools against excluding learners over unpaid fees.
During a school heads meeting in Kadoma on 15 May 2025, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo stated:
“It is illegal for schools to chase away pupils. As a government, we will decisively deal with school heads who violate learners’ rights.”
The minister advised schools to look into alternative ways of generating income:
“Schools should be creative and come up with ideas that create extra income to cover expenses.”
Despite this, the Kuwadzana No. 1 headmaster appears to be walking a fine line — not sending pupils home, but separating them in the classroom.
The fine print
In the letter sent home, parents were asked to indicate whether they had paid all, half, or none of the fees. The form included three boxes for parents to tick:
-
“Ndakabhadharira mwana wangu mari yose”
-
“Ndakabhadhara half yemari”
-
“Handina kubhadhara fees”
A notice at the bottom read:
“Vamwe vabereki vakabhadhara mari ndivo vakapa chichemo ichi kuti vana vavo vakabhadhara yose vawane zvakakwana zvokushandisa.”
The headmaster hinted that this decision came after pressure from paying parents who demanded that their children receive the full benefit of resources.
A balancing act
While no pupils are being turned away, the class separation raises questions about inclusion and equal access to education.
With the debate still raging online, it remains to be seen if the Ministry will intervene further.
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post ‘Paid vs Unpaid’ – Kuwadzana Headmaster Splits Classes Into 2 After Government Bans Schools From Chasing Away Pupils appeared first on iHarare News.
