Elite college arbitrarily retrenches teachers

THE elite Petra Senior School, trading as Petra College, in Bulawayo is in the eye of a storm after allegedly retrenching teachers in unclear circumstances.

Petra College is a Christian co-ed school in Bulawayo serving learners from early years to the Sixth Form and offers Cambridge and Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council syllabi.

The school administration recently wrote to three qualified teachers and one non-teaching staff member asking them to sign.

It still remains unclear if the board of trustees cleared or endorsed the retrenchment and also no reasons were given for the selection of the individuals being laid off.

The act has been described as arbitrary and non-procedural.

Concerned stakeholders told Southern Eye that the current enrolment is 337 students after many parents withdrew their children from the school.

“A number of parents are seeking to withdraw their children from the school which speaks volumes and we suspect that they have done an environment scan and discovered that the learners were being taught by unqualified teachers,” the sources said.

“As we speak, the enrolment has now declined to 337 pupils. Just imagine an elite school where parents expect the best for their children and the unqualified, and worse, just an Ordinary Level certificate holder teaching advanced level classes, it's pathetic. You cannot pay US$2 000 for your child to be taught by a unqualified teacher.”

The sources said more parents were seeking to withdraw their children from the school.

Speaking on the recent retrenchments, the sources said the teachers were given letters of retrenchment under the so-called mutual separation a week before end of October and put on three months’ notice.

“It was not clear what criteria they used to retrench the qualified teachers, leaving unqualified members of staff. What we know is that the letters were supposed to be sent to the board to confirm or decline the retrenchment , but this seems not to have been done,” they said.

“People were told to sign the letters and it is as if they have no rights. They were not told the reasons. As of now, they are in the grace period up to December to sign since they were given three months’ notice.”

According to a memorandum of agreement leaked to Southern Eye, the employees’ contracts had been terminated on three months’ notice effective October 1 this year.

“Payment of the legislated minimum package as compensation for loss of employment being one month’s salary for every year of service as a full-time employee,” the letter read.

It further stated that other applicable conditions included the package of one month’s salary for every year served that will be paid at the end of the notice period.

“Subject to all statutory formalities, pension contributions will be handled in accordance with Fünd Rules, employees will remain on the payroll until December 31, 2025 and will work the notice period and the above is in full and final settlement of any claims against the employer or any of its officials,” the letter read.

Senior school head Rob Aldridge requested written questions, but has not responded since last Friday.