Close down illegal private schools, Chiredzi Council urged

CHIREDZI Town Council has been challenged to stop the proliferation of unregistered private schools that are taking advantage of the high demand for schools here.

Some of the private schools are reportedly fleecing desperate parents of their hard-earned money, a situation that has seen some colleges using sub-standard facilities such as garages as classrooms.

Last week, Chiredzi District Administrator Mr Lovemore Chisema expressed concern over the continued mushrooming of private schools and urged council to intervene.

Addressing a full council meeting last week, Mr Chisema challenged serious private school operators to build proper classrooms instead of relying on makeshift ones.

The town council, he said, should shut down private schools that were operating illegally.

“Council should be very careful with the recent haste to establish private schools in this town,” said Mr Chisema.

“These people are not here for development because they want to make quick money and do not want to develop stands that have been designated for development of schools.

“It’s a shame that some are even turning garages into classrooms, which is unlawful.”

Mr Chisema said the demand for schools in Chiredzi should not be abused by allowing unregistered private schools to proliferate.

“Chiredzi needs more schools, but we must not expose ourselves to abuse and more problems due to the situation we are in,’’ he said.

‘’These people do not want to build their own schools; they must develop schools if they are prepared to help Chiredzi town. We cannot condone people who are just after making a quick buck because they will disappear in the long run.”

Chiredzi District Schools Inspector Mrs Petronela Nyangwe warned council to consult the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education before granting private schools operating licences.

“We appeal to council to engage us whenever they attend to cases of schools which are in need of places to operate from,” she said. “We have noted that some schools are being opened in undesignated areas and this is compromising our work.

‘’It is disturbing that in some cases, you will find that both a primary and a secondary school will be operated from the same premises, which is wrong.’’

Government has since taken a tough stance against non-compliant schools.

“We have been instructed to close down these illegal schools,” said Mrs Nyangwe. “The standard of education must never be compromised under whatever circumstances.”

Since last year, Chiredzi has witnessed the sprouting of many private schools, some of which have folded under unclear circumstances, leaving pupils stranded.