School beating leaves learner blind

30 Jun, 2024 - 00:06 0 Views
School beating leaves learner blind

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter

A GRADE Four pupil from Mqabuko Primary School in Lupane District, Matabeleland North Province is feared to have lost sight in one of her eyes after she was injured by a stick that her teacher was using to beat another learner as punishment. 

The minor has undergone surgery at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and is recovering from home.

The learner who is nine years old was successfully operated on two weeks ago but initial tests that were done at the institution revealed that she had lost sight in her left eye. 

The family is trying to raise US$80 for further examinations following the operation.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has since said they will investigate the matter which is now also a police case. Zimbabwe banned corporal punishment and said teachers must use other means of discipline that are not physical. 

The mother of the child, Ms Sichelesile Moyo who stays in Magwegwe North in Bulawayo, said her daughter was staying with her (Ms Moyo’s) mother in Lupane and when the incident occurred they took her to Dongamuzi Clinic who then referred her to St Luke’s Hospital.

The teacher, Ms Nozithelo Mpofu is said to have seen the learner crying and upon being asked the child revealed that the stick the teacher was using to beat another child had injured her.

“She missed school for the next two days and my mother had to go to the school and inform them that my child had been seriously injured. The school had not informed them formally of the incident or apologised for having injured her,” said Ms Moyo.

After persuasion from fellow teachers, Ms Mpofu then went to take the learner to the clinic for treatment about a week after the incident.

“This teacher then took my daughter to the clinic where they were told they could not manage her there as they did not have eye specialists. The teacher then took her back to the village. She was asked why she was not seeking further medical attention as advised by the clinic by her colleagues and she decided to act on it.

“I called the teacher and she apologised for injuring her by mistake. I asked her to assist by taking my daughter to St Luke’s Hospital as it was getting worse. She did and they were referred to UBH. But the teacher said she had other things she needed to do and could not go to UBH and I was forced to go to St Luke’s to pick up the child and take her to UBH,” said Ms Moyo.

At UBH they were told there was something inside the eye and that the girl had taken long in seeking medical attention which had further damaged the eye.

The pupil was immediately admitted and operated on, the following morning, however it was observed she could no longer see with the eye in question.

“We then were struggling to pay the hospital bill and the teacher said she could not help because she did not have money. I then told the teacher I was going to lodge a police report since she was refusing to assist with medical bills and the child was still in hospital. An hour later she sent ZiG$650 to the hospital to pay part of the US$241 which was due and the child was discharged,” said Ms Moyo.

Two weeks ago the pupil went for a review and she still could not see with the affected eye.

“Now the hospital has to file a medical report that is required by the police so that we can make a report but that is not possible because we have to get a scan that will show the back and the front of the eye to determine the extent of damage. I do not have the money for that scan. The scan costs US$80. So that is the hold up now,” she said.

Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro said the matter is now going to be investigated, also adding that corporal punishment remains illegal.

“This one now becomes a police case and a civil suit. As the Ministry we will initiate our internal investigations to deal with the teacher and disciplinary measures will take place. Our message has been clear that the constitution of Zimbabwe outlawed corporal punishment under the Education Amendment Act of 2020 and therefore no teacher is supposed to administer corporal punishment on any pupil for whatever reason,” said Mr Ndoro.

“It is our clarion call that all teachers adhere to the Constitution and they ensure that they abide by the laws of the country and the policies of the Ministries as well,” he said.

Ms Mpofu said she has approached the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) and stated her case and is awaiting a response from the lawyers who had said they were going to write to the school authorities.

Magwegwe Police Station, where Ms Moyo tried to make the initial report said the case must be reported in Lupane where the incident occurred.

“I have not been able to go to Lupane to make a police report as I was more concerned about the wellbeing of my daughter, so if I get money for a scan, then I can get the medical report done and I take it to the police and report. I also have not managed to see the Provincial Education Director for Matabeleland North Province but I will go and make a report,” said Ms Moyo.

@NyembeziMu

 

 

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