Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Lazarus Dokoro today ordered Mukaro High School students to go back to school with immediate effect.
This follows the closure of the school by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Masvingo in Gutu, in protest against the continued presence of two teachers, who were being accused of masterminding a pupil’s protests in 2012.
Addressing journalists in the capital, Dr Dokora said that all leaners at Mukaro School should immediately return to school and resume classes upon arrival.
He said this was agreed to after a meeting he had with the school authorities .
“All learners should return back to school with immediate effect and resume classes upon arrival. The ministry of Primary and Secondary Education regards the interests of learners as central to its mandate,” he said.
Dr Dokora reminded school authorities that the issue of teaching personnel is a matter of Central Government which the prerequisite ministry, “Primary and Secondary Education” will deal with it in accordance with the law.
“The issue of the teaching personnel is a matter of Central Government as the employer and can be dealt with by the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in accordance with appropriate regulations,” said Dr Dokora while reading from a statement.
Snags at Mukaro fermented since July 2012, when over 700 girls staged a protest and walked to Mpandawana Growth point to meet Ministry of Education authorities over myriad of grievances.
The pupils were reportedly unhappy with the quality of food served at the school that was also chronically beset by water problems as three boreholes that supplied the institution were being overwhelmed.