Thursday, 14th October 2004

Speech by Mr Andy Laing, Chairman of the Board of Governors

 Mr Mavros, Mrs Thomson, Headmaster and Mrs Querl, Members of Staff, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys of  the College...

 This hall holds more than 50 years of memories.    It was the original Bushtick Mine clubhouse.   In early days the floor was sprung and we had a fully equipped gymnasium in here.    In the 1980's the headmaster at the time doubled the insurance cover on this building, and amazingly it burnt to the ground a week later.

 In re-building it was decided to retain the Northern portion in its original state as it was a part of our history, but the remainder bears little resemblance to that original clubhouse. 

 The story of this hall is in some respects the story of Falcon and, in a nutshell, depicts what we are trying to achieve here.   That is to retain the best of our past traditions, whilst accepting that times are changing.

 As we approach the end of the most extraordinary year in the history of the College, it is a time to reflect and a time to look forward.

 We can reflect on the extraordinary 50th celebrations which have seen events to mark the occasion in various centres throughout Zimbabwe, in South Africa and in England.    

 The unveiling of our memorial outside the library on 4 February was a moving ceremony which included long service awards to a large number of College employees as well as the first official rendition of the 50th anniversary song composed by Bud Cockroft.

 In June we witnessed the largest gathering of friends and supporters that the College has ever seen, with thousands of people enjoying sporting events.   Hundreds of Old Boys came from far and wide, true testimony to their feelings for the College, their desire to meet again with old friends, and respect for their former teachers.    It was quite extraordinary to see Old Boys flying in from across the globe, from Texas, Vancouver, London, Cape Town and many other places, just for a single weekend.    Some of them were clearly lost for words and overcome with emotion as they bid farewell at the end of this most amazing weekend. 

 Our 50th celebrations have proved immensely successful in all respects.   They have involved a lot of people in a lot of hard work.   Virtually every member of staff has been involved in one way or another, and to them we are very grateful, but in particular I would like to record our thanks to George Lee-Bell who headed the committee established for this purpose.

 We can also reflect on the extraordinary activities related to the whole saga of school fees.   Falcon has always fully cooperated with the Ministry,  and has always applied for fee increases as required.   On most occasions Government audit teams visited the College to verify our figures.   On every such occasion these teams concurred with our submissions.

 In particular, we have been told that, after two separate visits by Government auditors, the regional office approved the fee level of $4,2m for the first term.   One wonders on what basis therefore the Secretary saw fit to dictate a fee level of $3,3 for the whole year, when on Government's own admission, inflation was then running at over 600% and even now is in the region of 300%.   In effect the Ministry of Finance is saying that inflation is 600% whilst the Ministry of Education is saying that there is no inflation at all, but a deflation of 21%.    It would be useful if the two Ministries could find common ground.

 At the start of the second term, without any prior warning, we were forced to close the College for five days.   Police were deployed to schools throughout the country to enforce compliance with an order from the Ministry of Education.    The High Court has since ruled that this action by the Ministry and the police was illegal.   Various headmasters were dragged from their homes at midnight and illegally detained by the very people entrusted to uphold the law.  Our own headmaster was detained at Esigodini. and then subjected to a six hour bone-jarring safari around Matabeleland South in the back of an unroadworthy police vehicle, in an obvious attempt to waste time and ensure he only arrived in Gwanda after the Court had closed for the day.  He was accused of a crime that he never committed.    The Prosecutor withdrew the charge against the headmaster as soon as he saw the papers.   He had and has no case to answer.

 Thankfully higher authority intervened and our headmaster was saved further subhuman treatment of having to spend a night in appalling conditions.  When are the police going to learn that if they require the presence of headmasters at a police station for any reason, all they have to do is to ask ?    Sending eight officers at midnight to drag an esteemed member of the community from his house for a non-existent crime is  absolutely disgraceful.    What is the Ministry trying to achieve ?     If it is a reduction in school fees, then how do they explain that their illegal closure of the College cost $100m, and even though our trial has yet to commence, legal fees to date exceed $11m.   All of this impacts on the cost to parents.   How does the Ministry explain the sad news that we received yesterday - that Hillcrest College in Mutare, both primary and secondary schools, have gone into voluntary liquidation, entirely as a result of Government's school fees policy ?    illcrestH

 Hillcrest follows on the heels of Eaglesvale which has been in liquidation since the beginning of this term.

 Throughout this difficult period we have been greatly encouraged by support from every quarter.   From policemen who apologised for what they were doing, from senior politicians and members of the ruling party, from parents and friends far and wide, and from staff who gathered at Esigodini police station when the headmaster was arrested.   In particular we were encouraged by the unwavering support of our head boy and deputy headboy who stood firm beside their headmaster and refused to budge from their moral high ground.   I would like to thank and congratulate these two fine young men for the courageous stand they took.

 Of course, this unfortunate experience did have its lighter moments.    The headmaster had a difficult decision to make - whether to cuddle up to a board member to keep warm or whether to freeze.  Fortunately for both he remained indecisive.     owever the   However the experience did achieve a breakthrough in medical science, because it was established that six hours seated on top of a spare wheel in the back of a landrover that had no shock absorbers, is the best cure for sciatica.

 The current position is that the College is to face trial in Gwanda on 22 October.    We are innocent until proved guilty.    In fact, in the six months since this whole fiasco started, only two parties have been found by the Courts to have acted illegally;  that is the Ministry of Education and the police.   Food for thought.

 Despite all these trials and tribulations the College ends the year in a strong position.   The Board has determined that a lowering of standards is absolutely not acceptable.  We have enjoyed a year of success in all fields.   We are grateful to all of our staff, who remain loyal and steadfast despite their anxiety, and whilst we take no comfort in the problems of other schools, we have noted that Falcon College has generally retained its staff this year better than any other.    One school in Harare has lost sixteen members of staff in the last two terms.  

 Whilst pupil enrolment is slightly down, and this negatively impacts on revenue, we have maintained a reasonably sound financial position.   

 There are several reasons for this:

 Firstly, three members of the Board, who never seek recognition, have made enormous donations to the College.   These have come from the Bristow family, the McTaggart family, and the Mavros family.  We are very grateful and deeply indebted to them.

 Secondly, fund-raising, through the parents fundraising committee with cabarets, raffles and cycle rides, etc, has brought in a substantial amount of money.     We are very grateful to parents in Harare and Bindura, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.   In particular, one lady, Yvonne Thomson, whose son incidentally left Falcon several years ago, continues to show the most remarkable commitment and has taken on huge responsibilities.   We are honoured to have her here with us today to present the prizes.

 Thirdly, as always, surplus funds at the start of term have been promptly and sensibly invested by our Bursar, Mr Watson, who despite his incredible workload and shortage of staff, has managed to find the time to play the money market, to spread the risk, and so far at least, to invest our funds wisely in banks that have not collapsed.   The Bursar and his team are to be commended for a job well done.   

 Fourthly, in our budgeting we have sought short term relief by cutting right back on capital expenditure and maintenance, though obviously this cannot be sustained for long.

 Sadly there is a very small percentage of parents who have taken advantage of current litigation and decided, in their wisdom but without any knowledge of the reality, that Falcon only requires $3,3m per pupil per term.   Regrettably we have to live with this minority at least until ongoing court challenges have been finalised, but clearly their parasitic mentality cannot be endured for long and we envisage resolving the issue very soon.    At the same time we are extremely grateful to the vast majority of parents who have supported the College and paid the additional donations required.

 Throughout this year we have spent much time explaining our budgets  to parents in meetings and individually, and we trust that this effort has enhanced their knowledge of how the College operates.    We are not aware of one single parent, government official or other person who, having examined our budgets in any detail, still holds the opinion that the fees could be reduced.  In fact historically College budgeting has always been remarkably accurate and remains so right up to the present.

 In recognition of the dire need to raise funds outside school fee revenue, a major exercise is now underway to mobilise old boys throughout the world.     Whilst the prime objective is to raise money through world wide 100 clubs, social functions, legacies and so on, it is also intended that communications will be improved and our external support base, both moral and financial, will be enhanced.

 We are grateful to the parents on the newly formed 'task force' who having empowered themselves by learning more about the College, have agreed to assist in the very important role of communication with both parents and Government.     

 In the field of communication we have recently obtained our own broadband network, which, once the teething problems have been ironed out, will give us eight direct internet links.   Already academic staff have found great benefit from access to the Cambridge web site.   With the new Netone mast now at Esigodini, plans are in hand to further improve communications between parents and their housemasters to ensure that the latter are more easily accessible at any time.    The cell system has been established as a means of further improving communication with parents, and we are grateful to all the cell leaders.

 The Board is extremely grateful to the Headmaster and to Mrs Querl for their continued hard work, commitment and enthusiasm.    They make an outstanding team.    Pressures on this family have been considerable this year, but throughout it all they have remained cheerful, positive,  energetic and an inspiration to others.

 I would also like to thank members of the Board who have given up so much of their time during the year.   I have already mentioned three of them by name, but they bear mentioning again.   Patty Bristow oversaw the entire kitchen and dining room renovations and has assisted in securing essential requirements that are not readily available locally.     John McTaggart has been involved in various projects, but most notably in acquiring our broadband network for us and ensuring that we have not run out of fuel.  Patrick Mavros flew especially to the Falls to address parents there, made time to address the housemasters at a recent seminar, and has led the way in local community interaction through his wheel chair initiative for handicapped people.  Alistair Coulson has spent much time, effort and money on negotiating with the local Council and patching our access road, as well as sitting on the Quiet Waters committee, repairing their landrover and assisting with the agricultural department and labour relations issues.   Todd Moyo has chaired the staff liaison committee, and Geoff Mhlanga has established and coordinated the task force and liased with Government officials.   Lex Lucas has ably chaired the vital finance committee, which is really the corner-stone of most decisions, and has ensured that we do not run out of money.  

 Last but not least of course, I would like express thanks to Tim Tanser.   Tim is a Falcon Old Boy and past parent.  He joined the Board in..... and was appointed chairman in.....   In difficult times one often wonders how one can manage without the likes of Tim Tanser at the helm.   He has steered this College through turbulent seas, always giving sound advice, maintaining a great sense of humour and providing invaluable leadership.   He has travelled from Harare for Board meetings several times every term.    On top of that he has spent much time in Harare dealing with Falcon matters.   He loves Zimbabwe and Falcon.   His wise counsel and advice, coupled with his inordinate knowledge of Falcon, our history and traditions, and his positive outlook even in the face of adversity, has been a guiding light.   His wife Di,  a senior teacher at Arundel School, has always been most supportive.    We are grateful to Tim and to Di, and thankful that, whilst stepping down as chairman, Tim remains on the Board.

 With regard to next year, you may rest assured that the Board is positive in outlook and committed to the future of Falcon.    We detest the presence of South African scavengers who come here to try and poach our teachers and pupils whilst taking advantage of our present difficulties.    They remind us of the small band of South African hunters who have taken advantage of the chaotic land situation to come and shoot a cheap elephant or a cheap lion with total disregard to the long term future of our country.   We hope for their sake that the shoe will never be on the other foot.  There is simply no need to consider alternative education for your sons.  

 Emphasis next year will be placed on marketing the College, the retention of staff, improved communications and improved academic results.   There will be no compromise on discipline.  At the same time, being acutely aware of the huge burden that school fees places on parents, the Board will aggressively pursue all avenues of supplementary income.  

 Today you will again be handed a small slip of paper asking you to indicate whether or not you support our fees application for next year.  The Ministry has directed that we should submit one application for the whole year, and impossible though this may appear, we shall as always, cooperate fully with the Ministry, even though we are not sure quite how on earth we are expected to predict what a loaf of bread or a worker's wage will be in 14 months time.    We are therefore relying entirely on the forecasts made by the Governor of the Reserve Bank as there is absolutely no other basis from which to work, and we trust that the Ministry will accept the Reserve Bank figures in our application.    For this we need the support of our parents, and we ask every one of you to please ensure that your slips are returned with your sons after the weekend.   Put more simply, without your support, we cannot educate your sons.

 In return, you have the Board's commitment that it will continue to do its best to contain expenditure whilst striving to maintain all that has been achieved here over the past 50 years.    We are looking forward to the next 50.

 I wish you all a safe journey and a pleasant weekend.      Thank you.