HANKE Adventist High School in Shurugwi, Midlands Province has excluded a Form Two pupil who was recently caught in a compromising position with a fellow female learner in a suspected lesbian love affair.
Her partner, an Upper Sixth Form pupil, escaped sanction on a technicality as she had finished writing her end of year examinations when the determination on the matter was made.
Midlands provincial education director (PED) Mrs Agnes Gudo confirmed the development to Sunday News on Thursday last week.
Mrs Gudo said the Form Two pupil, whose name cannot be revealed for ethical reasons, was excluded from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church run school to protect her and fellow learners. She explained that by exclusion, the school had simply given her a transfer to allow her to enrol at any school of her choice.
“Normally in such cases we exclude students. What exclusion means is that the student is free to enroll at another school. This is done to allow the student a fresh start away from prejudice.
“It is not punishment as such but a way of protecting the student as well as other students. In this case we might even assist the girl to find an alternative school where she will receive counselling to allow her a fresh start,” said Mrs Gudo.
Allegations against the girl and her partner are that on an unknown date in October, the two suspected lovebirds were caught by fellow pupils kissing and caressing each other in one of the dormitories.
It is alleged that the two had been involved in a covert love affair since last year before their cover was blown by other pupils who had grown suspicious of the pair.
Sources at the school said the two confessed their illicit affair before a school disciplinary committee which referred the matter to the PED’s office. Delays in determining the matter, the sources said, incensed other pupils who convened their own disciplinary hearing where the two girls are said to have also confessed their love affair.
“The two girls confessed their affair before other students who convened their own disciplinary hearing after authorities seemed to take time to determine the case. The love birds were beaten up by fellow students who accused them of soiling the school’s reputation,” said the source.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church is one of the mainline churches popular for preaching and upholding high moral standards.
