Harare (New Ziana)-Dominican Convent High School on Thursday expelled eight students allegedly for taking illicit drugs during a recent trip to Nyanga.
In a notice to parents on Thursday, school head Sister Kudzai Mutsure said more students could be expelled if implicated in the scandal by ongoing investigations.
The students allegedly took illicit drugs during a school trip to Nyanga earlier this month.
“I write on a sad note to notify you that the 8 girls we had put on suspension pending investigations on an incident that took place at the 2023 U6 leadership camp which was held in Nyanga from the 12th to the 15th of January, have been excluded from the school with immediate effect.
“The disciplinary committee exercised all principles of procedural fairness and found the girls guilty of violating the school drug policy (see the school website for details).”
“My heart aches for these girls and their parents but my duty of care is to ensure that the school environment is, as far as is practicable, safe and free from all risks. I have a responsibility to the whole school community and possessing, using or supplying a restricted substance including vaping is not acceptable.”
“Investigations are still ongoing, and we will not hesitate to weed out any more culprits to sanitise the school space,” said the Head.
She urged the parents to take the affected learners for counselling and rehabilitation.
“I pray that the girls will receive the rehabilitation they need and that ALL parents take an active role, in partnership with the school, to modify the inappropriate behaviour of their children.
“I believe that school officials’ efforts to protect students from the dangers of substance abuse are sometimes hampered by parents and community members in denial about the pervasiveness of the problem and the potential for any child to succumb to the lures of drugs,” she said.
Sister Mutsure advised parents to be more vigilant and active by refining their parenting skills and being aware of their children’s activities as the school’s investigations show that the pervasive behaviour started at home.
“I will keep you posted on any further developments,” she said.
New Ziana
