Parents Outraged as Direct Contact School Faces Backlash Over ‘No Holiday Lesson Payment, No Gate Pass’ Policy

Direct Contact Private school, is facing accusation for their, ‘No holiday lesson payment, no gate pass’ policy, denying students from attending regular lessons.

One parent, Dominic Saurombe, has been grappling with difficulties in paying fees for the new term. He was informed that his fees would not be accepted until he cleared the outstanding amount for the holiday lessons. Though Saurombo’s children did not attend the holiday classes.

Parent Seeks Resolution with Ministry of Education

Saurombe, frustrated by his attempts to pay school fees for his children, sought assistance from the Ministry of Education. The school had sent letters to parents, demanding that Forms 1, 3, and 5 students attend additional holiday classes if they scored below 60 percent in their respective subjects. The cost for participating in these lessons varied. Junior school pupils and Form 2 students were required to pay US$120. Form 4 students were charged US$180, and Upper Sixth students were expected to pay US$220.

Parent Objects and Makes Alternative Arrangements

Saurombe informed school that his children would not be attending the extra lessons. He cited that he had made alternative arrangements for their studies during the school break. In his letter, he emphasized that his family did not enroll for mandatory holiday lessons outside of the government-gazetted school calendar.

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Saurombe also highlighted his children’s satisfactory academic performance, stating that mandatory extra lessons were unnecessary. “My children’s performance is at worst good and at best exceptional and, as such, do not see the need for mandatory extra lessons,” stated Saurombe.

School Headmaster Claims Ignorance

When contacted for comment, the headmaster of Direct Contact, Mr. Mushori, claimed to be unaware of any directive to prevent children from attending classes due to unpaid holiday lesson fees. “I am not aware of what you are saying,” stated Mushori.