By Varaidzo Matope
Ten schoolgirls at Kriste Mambo High School were allegedly suspended, forced to write “confession” letters, and subjected to banned corporal punishment after they were caught with mobile phones, sparking outrage among parents and child-rights advocates.
Parents say the girls were handed two-week suspensions and guardians were ordered to collect them from the school, a decision many families described as both excessive and financially burdensome. When the learners returned, they reportedly faced a disciplinary panel where they were compelled to admit guilt in writing before being accepted back into class.
Several parents argue the letters were extracted under pressure, raising questions about transparency, fairness, and whether the learners’ rights to due process were upheld.
The matter escalated after reports surfaced that the 10 students endured two days of physical punishment as part of the disciplinary process, a practice outlawed by the Education Amendment Act of 2020. Child-rights specialists say the alleged beatings directly contravene the Constitution, including Section 53, which forbids cruel or degrading treatment, and Section 81(1)(e), which protects minors from physical or psychological abuse.
Parents have criticized the disciplinary stance as “extreme” and “demeaning,” noting that previous administrations dealt with similar violations by simply confiscating phones until the end of term.
“With the new headmistress, the environment has changed. The girls are living in fear,” one parent said.
Guardians also raised concerns over the prolonged withholding of the learners’ mobile phones, arguing that in an era where digital research and communication are central to schoolwork, the punishment is not only severe but also counterproductive to learning.
The incident has sparked wider debate about discipline in schools, with calls for authorities to intervene and ensure kriste Mambo High complies with child protection laws and adopts non violent, child friendly disciplinary methods.