BULAWAYO – The acting provincial education director for Bulawayo has been ordered to return cash paid by schools towards the hosting a “promotion celebration” for her predecessor.

In a letter to all Bulawayo schools dated May 13, Jane Ndebele said they were “requesting” Z$7,000 contributions from each school to host a leaving party for Olicah Kaira, who was recently promoted to chief director in the ministry of primary and secondary education in Harare.

“A request is hereby made for Z$7,000 per school towards promotion celebration for the former provincial education director Mrs O. Kaira,” Ndebele said in the letter, giving schools up to May 17 to deposit the money in a ZB account for the department.

The letter leaked online this week drawing fire from angry parents who said it was a terrible misuse of school funds.

“Parents are struggling to pay fees. Schools are struggling to provide learning materials for learners. The provincial education director is taking the little money from schools to host a party,” blasted one parent on Twitter.

Responding to an enquiry from ZimLive on Friday, the director of communications in the ministry of primary and secondary education Taungana Ndoro said: “We have asked the acting provincial education director to reimburse all schools that had paid.”

No shame … Letter from Jane Ndebele to schools soliciting donations for leaving do