The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
TWO pupils and three teachers from Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo cheated death on Wednesday when a school truck they were travelling in was hit from behind by another vehicle, throwing them onto the tarmac.
Parents at the school have since attacked the school officials accusing them of negligence by forcing pupils to use an open truck while there was a much safer school bus.
The pupils were travelling from Hillside Junior School where they were attending a quiz and debate competition.
Confirming the accident, Bulawayo acting provincial education director Mrs Ollicah Fikelephi Kaira said they were carrying out investigations to see whether there was any negligence on the part of the school.
“Yes, my office has been informed of that accident and we are in the process of investigating to determine the cause of the accident and to see whether there was any negligence on the part of the school.
“As of now I don’t have the finer details, I will be going to the school today (Friday), I am sure after that I will know what really transpired,” said Mrs Kaira.
Contacted for comment the school’s head, Mrs Khabo declined to comment referring all questions to the provincial offices.
However, parents at the school had no kind words noting that someone had to face disciplinary action at the school as this pointed to a case of negligence.
“What boggles the mind is that we have a school bus hence all the pupils could easily fit in that bus. If they wanted to remain behind for the results as they claim, the teachers should have remained, not the pupils who were then forced to sit at the back in an open truck, which is clear negligence.
“What I now expect is that at least the school caters for the hospital costs because while they might say the accident was not expected, they were negligent and should pay for that.
“Further, I think the education office must investigate this issue and someone should be answerable for this,” said one parent who declined to be named.
However, sources privy to the accident revealed that the pupils and teachers were thrown off the moving vehicle and were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment.
“We were coming from Hillside where we had attended a quiz and debate competition. It was then realised that it was getting late hence the majority of pupils were put in the school bus while a handful, mainly the team captains remained behind waiting for the results, they were to use the school open truck to take them back to school.
“When the van was turning onto Fitch Road, leading to the school it was hit from behind by another vehicle, resulting in the pupils and the teachers who were seated behind the canopy-less vehicle, thrown off the vehicle.
One of the pupils was seriously injured as she broke her hip bone and has since been transferred from UBH to Mater Dei,” said the source.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango said according to the Government policy parents were meant to sign an indemnity form before their children embark on such school trips.
“It is difficult because as you know we do not micro-manage these schools but I believe what should have happened is that the parents should have signed an indemnity form before their children travelled on this school trip.
“For now I will wait for a report from the provincial offices for me to give a detailed comment,” said Dr Utete-Masango.
Legal experts said it was not proper for schools to use open trucks without proper seats to travel for school trips and parents can take legal action against the school.
“School trucks, especially open trucks, are meant to carry stationary, not school pupils.
“The school can be taken to court and be prosecuted for negligence,” said a legal expert in Bulawayo.
