The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor
Paul Mavima says all modes of payment currently obtaining in the country must
be accepted, adding that requests by schools for fees payment in specific
currency are not acceptable.
The government has nullified the unilateral increase of
school fees and levies by both government and trust schools saying such
adjustments can only be done upon approval by the responsible ministry.
In an interview with ZBC News, Professor Mavima said the
directive was captured through a Secretary’s Circular Minute Number 6 of 2018
which states that fees can be paid in all modes of payments currently obtaining
in the country.
“All modes of payment currently obtaining in Zimbabwe shall
be accepted. For the avoidance of doubt, requests by schools for payment in
specific currency are not acceptable,” said Professor Mavima.
Professor Mavima said Statutory instrument 159 A of 2007
outlines the official requirements for the approval of fees.
“…schools that wish to increase fees and levies must submit
their application to the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and an
approval has to be received by the schools before any increase is effected. So
no school should increase fees without having applied to the Secretary and
approval is granted,” he said.
Minister Mavima said for the Secretary to appreciate the
basis upon which the fees and levies are calculated, schools must together with
the application submit the following: – current audited accounts, and minutes
of a meeting attended by at least 20 percent of the parents.
On uniforms, the Minister said parents shall be allowed to
purchase school uniforms to their best advantage.
“…They must be allowed to procure the uniforms from the
best quotation they can get..,” he said.
He said the ministry’s institutions have an obligation to
guarantee access to education for all children, adding that education must
prepare all children for their future and for them to contribute to the
development of the nation.
Professor Mavima said everything possible must be done to
ensure that education is affordable.
0 comments:
Post a Comment