Following the announcement that examination fees for this
year will be pegged in USD, payable in the local currency equivalent, some
schools around the country have been reportedly demanding payment exclusively
in hard currency. According to Zimsec, Grade Seven examination fees will be
US$30 for all the subjects, Ordinary Level fees were pegged at US$11 per
subject for candidates in public, local authorities-run, and non-profit making
schools with the Government paying a subsidy of US$24 while those in private
schools and colleges fork out US$24 per subject. Advanced Level candidates in
public and local authority-run schools will pay US$22 per subject with the
Government contributing US$26 in subsidy. Private schools and college
candidates shall pay US$48 per subject.
In an interview with Sunday News, Zimsec spokesperson Ms
Nicky Dlamini said they had received complaints from parents around the
country, as some schools had notified them that they would be accepting USD
payments only. Payment of examination fees is supposed to take place between 22
and 29 July.
“Schools cannot force parents to pay in foreign currency.
That is not allowed and therefore against the regulations. We have received
reports of schools doing this and they are being reprimanded accordingly. This
is where parents have to step up and play a watchdog role so they can alert us
when schools are flouting the rules and asking them to pay in forex,” she said.
Ms Dlamini said Zimsec had given the go ahead for schools
to receive payments in foreign currency for schools that applied, particularly
those around border towns who requested for a waiver allowing them to deal in
forex.
“After we made the announcement that parents can pay the
examination fees at the interbank rate equivalent of the quoted USD amounts, we
received a letter from schools in areas like Beitbridge and Lower Chiredzi
asking for a waiver that would allow them to pay in hard currency. This is
because parents in those areas, use foreign currency on a daily basis and it
would be a bit hard for them to get access to RTGS to pay the fees. So, we have
now resolved to allow parents to pay in whatever currency they have access to
at that particular time. If they have rands or RTGS they can pay the equivalent
of the fee that was gazetted,” she said.
Ms Dlamini said following the new announcement that had
officialised the use of foreign currency, schools that collect the money in
foreign currency must also remit the same to the examination body.
“So, schools can
accept all currencies and we made this regulation in light of the monetary
policy resolutions that have been announced by Government recently. However, it
is important for schools to also note that, when they receive foreign currency,
whether it’s USD or rands, they also have to receipt and also remit to Zimsec
in that currency. We will not allow a situation where schools accept foreign
currency from parents but want to remit RTGS. Schools that attempt to do that
will be reprimanded and punished,” she said.
Ms Dlamini said Zimsec had also received reports of schools
setting their own deadlines for payment of exam fees. This, she said, was
illegal and against Zimsec regulations.
“We have also heard of schools setting their own deadlines
for the payment of fees and we want to make it clear that it is not allowed.
Some schools might perhaps say they want to end payments on 25 or 26 July for
administration purposes so they remit to Zimsec and that may be understandable,
but they have a month to do that. It is also important to note that
registration is not the same as payment. Schools have been allowed to register
pupils while they wait for payment which is forthcoming. Registration serves as
a way of helping schools determine just how many pupils, they can expect
payment from,” she said. Sunday News
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