Backyard Maths academy owner in trouble

AN UNREGISTERED private Maths academy in Chikanga was last week closed down and the owner arrested before being hauled to the Mutare Magistrates’ Criminal Court.

Tapiwa Machinya (31), who allegedly operated Chikanga Academy, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

He was being charged with contravening Section 42 (1) (a) of the Education Act Chapter 25: 04 otherwise known as the operation of an unregistered college.

Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.

Allegations were that on April 23, police detectives received information to the effect that Machinya was using two rooms of his house, House Number 1044 Chikanga 1, Mutare as classrooms for Ordinary Level mathematics students.

“The detectives proceeded to the said address and located Machinya who was in front of students teaching them and working out on the chalk board some mathematical problems to the class.

“The other room was fully packed with other students who were waiting for the next lesson so that they undergo some lessons for the day,” said Mr Karombe.

Machinya was asked for documents that authorised him to operate the college and he failed to produce them which led to his arrest.

Responding to the allegations, Machinya told the court that his was not a private college but that he was giving the students some extra lessons on mathematics since he is a qualified Mathematics teacher.

“Your Worship, I was only giving my students free extra lessons and I did not know that it was illegal. I was not operating a college, they were only two rooms,” he defended himself.

The matter was adjourned for trial to May 22.

Machinya was remanded out of custody.