Institutions demanding tuition fees “top-ups” will also
face sanctions. This week, Government will publicly name and shame schools
found to have unprocedurally adjusted tuition fees and levies before receiving
approval for the changes from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The Sunday Mail gathered that education authorities have
launched an investigation targeting the rogue schools, with some suspected of
demanding payment of tuition fees exclusively in United States dollars.
In terms of Circular Number 1 of 2023, all Government
boarding schools, private early childhood development (ECD) centres, and
private schools and colleges are required to apply for a review of levies and
tuition fees before effecting changes. Schools opened last week for the third
and final term of the year.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry Ms Kwadzanayi
Nyanungo on Friday said a list of the offending institutions will be published
“in the next seven days”.
“The ministry is currently monitoring and enforcing strict
compliance with the provisions of the Secretary’s Circular Number 1 of 2023,
which provides standard guidelines for the determination and processing of
applications for the increase of school fees and levies. This circular is in
line with the Treasury’s requirements on management of public funds. In the
next seven days, statistics will be ready on the exact number of non-compliant
schools and the action taken in this regard.”
Ms Nyanungo said there are two decision-making levels for
approval of an adjustment to school fees and levies, which are done at
provincial level.
“Within the devolution system, provincial education
directors use the stated guidelines to process applications for an increase of
fees and levies at their level and the statistics thereof are maintained at
provincial level. As we speak, the ministry is conducting a survey to determine
the exact number of applications per district, province, the proposed increase
margin and the proportions of approval and rejections,” she said.
Government, she said, will take legal action against
schools defying the regulations.
“The Secretary’s Circular Number 1 of 2023 clearly explains
the guidelines and processes to be followed by any school. Any violation of
this policy requirement will be handled in line with Statutory Instrument 1 of
2000, as amended, as it constitutes an act of financial misconduct that also
brings the ministry into disrepute. Furthermore, the illegal collection of
unapproved fees constitutes serious financial malpractice that other competent
arms of Government are also addressing in their own right. These include the
Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit.”
She said parents must reject unapproved tuition fee
adjustments.
“It is a criminal offence and affected parents should use
all channels to provide specific details to enable Government to take action.
Such details should include the name of the school, name of the school head,
district, province and evidence of financial malpractice, including the
issuance of a receipt in a different currency to the one paid. The ministry
requests the media to assist in disseminating the correct position that the
approval of fees is a non-negotiable requirement for any schools to demand additional
payment from parents or guardians.
Parents have the right to demand proof of the ministry’s
approval and even check the date of approval.”
Reads Circular Number 1 of 2023: “All schools should submit
their applications for fees approval to the Provincial Education Directors who
will in turn forward applications with recommendations . . . to be considered
by the Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education. All fees and
levy applications should be approved for use before collection.”
Schools intending to adjust tuition fees and levies must
attach to their application current audited bank accounts, minutes from a
properly constituted school parents’ assembly meeting, and their last fee and
levy approval document. They are also supposed to attach a proposed budget
approved by the parents’ assembly.
It states: “All modes of payment and currencies obtaining
in Zimbabwe shall be acceptable for fees and levies settlement. Requests by
schools for payment in an exclusively specific currency are not permissible.”
Sunday Mail
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