THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is
investigating a possible case of child abuse at Lukosi Secondary in Hwange
where a deputy headmistress allegedly forced a Form One girl to strip naked in
the presence of other pupils and teachers.
Mrs Posenta Kwidini, who is also a senior Mathematics
teacher at the school, was reportedly punishing the 15-year-old girl for
dressing improperly.
She allegedly forced her to remove her skirt in the Fashion
and Fabrics class where there were some Form Two pupils and two female
teachers, The Chronicle was told.
The incident happened last week and the girl, who cannot be
named for ethical reasons, filed a report at Hwange Police Station on Friday. The school authorities had reportedly
concealed the matter.
Hwange District Schools Inspector (DSI) Mr Germination Moyo
said he had ordered the school head to investigate the matter and submit a
report today.
“I received an informal report about the issue late on
Friday and I immediately told the school head to institute an investigation of
what actually happened and prepare a report. Since the matter involves a deputy
head who reports to the head, it’s ideal that we ask the head to investigate
and submit a report before we do anything. So I am expecting a report from the
head hopefully by Monday,” said Mr Moyo.
He said while there can be many ways of disciplining a
child in school, the teacher might be “charged and called to defend herself” if
the investigations establish that what she did constitutes an act of
misconduct.
Acting Matabeleland North police spokesperson Sergeant
Namatirai Mashona could not be reached on her mobile phone yesterday.
The girl was accompanied by her paternal uncle and some
community members to file a police report.
Police visited the school on Friday and some pupils told
them that they were used to such treatment by the deputy head.
In an interview, the girl narrated how she spent more than
five minutes naked.
“I was walking towards the Agriculture block while fixing
my skirt as I was coming from the toilet. The deputy head called me to the
Fashion and Fabrics laboratory where she was with other teachers. She asked why
I was opening my skirt and I explained to her that I was tucking in my blouse,”
said the girl.
She said Mrs Kwidini ordered her to remove her skirt and
she refused.The girl finally complied after Mrs Kwidini allegedly
threatened to beat her up.
“I unzipped my skirt and it dropped to the floor. I
remained naked for more than five minutes,” said the girl.
She allegedly dressed up when one of the teachers told her
to do so after Mrs Kwidini’s phone rang and she started talking on the phone.
With tears running down her cheeks, the girl walked to her
class where she was swarmed by sympathetic classmates who witnessed the
incident.
Contacted for comment, Mrs Kwidini said she could not
comment on the issue since it’s in the hands of the police.
A gender activist, Mrs Anna Mandizha-Ncube, who is director
of Buwalo Matilikilo Trust (BMT), said the girl’s dignity had been impaired.
“We are worried because there is nowhere in the Education Act where a child
should be disciplined in that manner. That’s a violation of her right to
privacy and dignity in terms of the Child Protection Act, and it’s a case which
we will follow with keen interest,” she said. Chronicle
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