PRIVATE schools are still demanding second term fees in
direct defiance of Government’s position that no school must demand payment as
online learning plans are yet to be approved.
Government last week said schools should not demand fees as
consultations are underway on when schools would open for the second term.
Authorities also said those intending to conduct online lessons should have the
plans first approved and no such plans had been approved so far.
When President Mnangagwa extended the national lockdown by
a further two weeks on Friday, he said schools, colleges and universities will
remain closed until further notice. Education authorities yesterday said no
parent must pay any fees as yet, adding that schools must comply with the
Government’s directive to avoid deregistration.
In Bulawayo, private schools such as Petra and Whitestone
have given parents up to May 15 to make partial fees payment as they wait for
Government’s communication on schools’ opening.
The schools are charging deposits of between $14 000 and
$27 000 insisting that they will be teaching pupils online starting this week.
In an interview yesterday, Association of Trust Schools
(ATS) executive director Mr Timothy Middleton said private schools are resuming
online lessons this week despite Government’s communication.
“The schools will be offering online lessons or equivalent.
We have communicated this to the ministry and they have not shown any negative
response to it,” said Mr Middleton.
Pressed to confirm if Government had responded to their
application, he said it has not.
“We are able to provide the online learning and keep the children
occupied without endangering their health in any way,” he added.
Mr Middleton declined to comment about fees increases that
had not approved by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“I do not think they are increasing the fees; I think
inflation is doing that. But they have to make those decisions and I thought
anyone would understand that these are strange times, these are difficult
times, for you, for me, for schools, for parents, for teachers, for pupils, and
everyone,” he said.
Petra Schools Trust chairman Mr David Coltart said both the
primary and high school will start online lessons on Wednesday.
“Petra is ahead of the curve regarding this crisis. Our
staff has been working very hard right through the lockdown and they have prepared
a comprehensive programme for online education which will commence this
Wednesday. Teachers will be teaching using online methods. So, the term which
was meant to start tomorrow will start on Wednesday,” said Mr Coltart.
He said due to the opening, Petra is demanding fees payment
for the second term.
“In that context, we have asked our parents to pay the
second term school fees so that teachers can be paid by the schools. Private
schools get no Government assistance and we have an obligation to pay our
teachers and other members of staff. It is in that context that we should not
be charged,” he said.
“My understanding of Government is that they are following
medical advice and that is schools should not physically open so that the virus
cannot be transmitted. As you know you cannot get the virus through the
internet.”
Mr Coltart said those who feel that the school is being
unjust should just transfer their children from Petra.
“The fees are not too high. We understand that everyone is
underpaid in this environment. The teachers are already underpaid if one
considers what people in commerce are being paid. These are private schools,
people are not forced to get to private schools. If they feel that they cannot
afford to pay these fees they have the right to take their children to other
schools,” said Mr Coltart.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Mr
Patrick Zumbo said Government position has not changed as schools are not
physically or virtually opening this week.
He said schools that defy Government’s regulation risk
being deregistered as Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema
warned last week.
He said schools have not even communicated to the Ministry
regarding their intentions to teach online while increasing fees.
“If that communication has been made, it is yet to reach
Permanent Secretary’s office. But as I speak, we have not seen any
communication coming from these schools. The Minister has made it clear that
measures can be taken and we don’t want to go as far as deregistering these
schools. But that is an option that we are left with in the event that they
continue to defy what the honourable minister has said. We don’t want to go
that far they just have to comply. That is what we are expecting from them,” he
said.
Mr Zumbo said parents and guardians should report to the
nearest education office schools that continue disregarding regulations so that
Government takes action.
“We have our officers at district level. We have our
officers at provincial level. So, they can raise some of these anomalies with
those officers. Those officers know what action to take and what they are
supposed to do. They can call our offices; a call would be enough,” said Mr
Zumbo. Chronicle
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