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Peter Matika, [email protected]

A PRIVATE school in Bulawayo has allegedly lost 231 learners from a student complement of 300, after a group of daring staff members’ “staged a coup”, hoodwinking parents into believing that the school was shutting down and reopening under new management.

Faith Christian College (FCC) has been left reeling following the shocking turn of events that saw a mass exodus of the learners from both primary and secondary levels.

The audacious power play unfolded during the second term school holidays as the unsuspecting director found himself outmanoeuvred by a faction of staff members who clandestinely plotted a takeover of the school’s operations.

The matter has since been reported to the police and a docket filed under IR 6316/24 has been opened at Bulawayo Central police station.

The accused staff members, names withheld, have reportedly since opened their own school, located not more than a kilometre from FCC.

The four are also accused of stealing school property comprising the school database, financial books and academic material.

They are now set to appear before a court of law after the director of the school reported the matter to the police, where they have since been charged with theft and fraud.

According to the school’s legal representative Mr Byron Sengweni of Sengweni Legal Practice, the four outmanoeuvred Mr Milton Maphosa of his investment, while also depriving and risking learners, especially exam candidates of their education.

“The turmoil ensued when the group of staff members orchestrated a coup, overpowering the school’s director and misleading parents into thinking that the school was set to close down and reopen under new management. We are not sure when and how long they had been planning this but it was done secretly through WhatsApp groups,” said Mr Sengweni.

He said they led parents and guardians into believing that the school was being closed and reopening under a new name and location.

“Police have been engaged and have since managed to recover some of the stolen items. They recovered 69 CALA files, &63 exercise books, 45 scheme books, 4 student books and a receipt book. However, other financial records and employment records are still missing,” said Mr Sengweni.

He said the school has been deprived of an estimated US$138 000 following the “coup.”

“They even took with them teachers contracts. Currently the school is re-employing teachers and is open for new students,” said Mr Sengweni.

He said the school was charging US$360 per term for school fees and the new school was charging US$300 and offering free uniforms to learners as a way to entice them to their school.

However, Mr Goodluck Katanaire of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys who is representing the teachers said he could not comment on the issue, saying investigations are still in progress.

Government recently shut down 368 technical and vocational training centres countrywide for operating without requisite documents in terms of the Manpower Planning and Development Act (Chapter 28:02), as part of a crackdown on institutions that fail to meet the required quality standards.

Additionally, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development identified 330 other colleges operating illegally nationwide.

Of these, 39 are in Bulawayo, including 10 Bulawayo City Council-run youth training centres such as Tshaka Council Vocational Training Centre and Mpopoma VTC.

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development de-registered the colleges after conducting a Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Quality Assurance Standards Compliance Inspectorate.

The exercise is in line with the ministry’s mandate to inspect private and independent education and training institutions to ensure that they comply with the Manpower Planning Development Act (Chapter 28: 02) subsection 1 and Statutory Instruments 333 of 1996 and 26 of 2001, on critical issues of registration that guarantee improved access to quality and equitable inclusive education and training.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira in an interview said the move aligns with the Government’s commitment to ensuring access to quality, inclusive education through the enforcement of the Manpower Planning Development Act and related statutory instruments.