Public School Offices: Where have you hidden your humanity?

         Someone must have begun to shake thinking that this attack is directed to him or her. No, it is not. Do you belong to the class of officers and secretaries that are excellent in customer mistreatment? Certainly not. I worked as an untrained teacher in a local school after my secondary education. A few months later, I found myself at loggerheads with the deputy principal and principal. I worked there for less than six months before I resigned. If I wanted to stay there for long, I would have remained blind for whatever way they wasted parents’ time outside their offices. Remember this is a local area. A parent has a case in the school concerning the son or daughter. People in this locality depend on farming, especially tea for their income. A parent passes by the school in the morning on the way to the farm, just to stay outside the principal’s office until evening when students are going home. Reason: the deputy keeps lying, “he is coming”-8:45 am, “he did not report that he is not coming today”-11:05 am, “let me try calling him and inform you”-1:30 pm, “his mobile phone is not going through, but I hope he could be on the way coming”-3:55 pm. What annoys me most is the fact that the deputy knew from yesterday that Mr. Tembo will not be in school today.

I remember the events that took place one day when the deputy called the mkubwa, who told him that he was not coming to school. The deputy, however, kept lying to parents who were outside the office to keep waiting, “he could be on the way coming, it is rare for him to miss school.” Considering the crucial time the two moms were wasting outside the office with their jembes hidden somewhere near the gate, I asked the deputy why it was too hard to release the parents so that they can come again tomorrow. His response to me turned to be a source of quarrel, hatred and enmity.

         I cannot condone this medieval way of doing things. Parents have spent days and weeks following and begging uncooperative head teachers. The head teachers have their businesses somewhere in town that they attend to when not in school. They are earning double in days when poor parents are losing double. Why don’t you be clear and inform the parents that the truth is, “the head teacher is away, when he comes, I shall call you,” (this is truly possible with today’s mobile world). Or if calling is hard, why are principles not able to communicate in time and parents be informed in time of their absence instead of keeping them waiting like slave things. This extreme immoral act that frustrates parents, if you are not aware. You need to repent and sympathize with our poor parents. This is one factor contributing to poor performance in our public schools.

        The 21^st century has new form offices. I propose offices where even a madman can go and be attended with excellent regard. By the time this insane person is leaving the office, he or she is healed and smiling away. That is what I propose and I am sure beyond measure that it is possible.