Dominican Convent school taking parents for a ride

THE case in which Dominican Convent High School in Harare withdrew an offer letter to Airforce of Zimbabwe Air Vice-Marshal Michael Moyo after he refused to pay US$1 500 development fees is just a tip of the iceberg of what is happening at this elite institution.

Dominican Convent is one of the most overrated schools in the country. Most teachers at this school do not teach and just come to class to sit and do nothing and leave children to do everything on their own. The good results which the school boasts of are not a product of good teaching.

These results should be credited to teachers at other schools who are engaged by parents to provide extra lessons to their children in various subjects.

Everyday in Dominican Convent WhatsApp groups, parents are looking for teachers to provide extra lessons to their children especially in English, Maths, Sciences, Geography.

It appears there is no more leadership at Dominican Convent to monitor what is happening in classes. Some of the teachers are rude and harass children for demanding that they do their job. For almost a year, the school was employing temporary teachers who only did their “A” Levels last year to teach Accounts and Business Studies.

Our children lost nearly a year of studies because they were being taught by teachers who were totally confused. However, I must point out that it is not all bad apples among the teachers as there are still a few committed ones who are doing their best to impart knowledge to children. Bravo to the few teachers!

The nearly US$2 000 school fees demanded by Dominican Convent per term is not justified considering all these challenges.

Parents have nowhere to complain because the school stopped consulting them two years ago and the school development committee appears to be on the side of school authorities who handpick its members.

The committee has not communicated with parents for the past two years.

Perhaps teachers are playing truant because they are not being remunerated well despite the astronomical fees charged by the school.

The only thing the leadership at Dominican Convent is good at is demanding that parents pay school fees in full before schools open.

As parents, we are appealing to the responsible authorities — Education ministry and the Catholic Church, to assist in bringing order at Dominican Convent otherwise standards will continue on a downward spiral with our children’s future being jeopardised.