By Joyce Mukucha and Anyway Yotamu
The Acting Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Amon Murwira has dispelled fears of parents wrestling the economic hardships concerning a possible tuition fee hike in 2020.
Addressing the media in Harare on the 9th of January 2019, Professor Amon Murwira confirmed that there will be no tuition fee increment in all government schools. If any, measures will be taken to address such transgressions.
“The Ministry would like to confirm that there will be no tuition fee increases in public schools. Provincial Education Directors, District Schools Inspectors and Heads of public schools should stand guided by the Circular to the same effect which has been dispatched to them. Anyone found transgressing this directive will face disciplinary action,” he said.
Government has also warned some private schools that are charging directly or indirectly in United States dollars that their licenses of operation will be terminated as well as de-registered, revealing that it is a serious national matter and illegal to trade in forex.
“Government has also learnt that some private schools are charging directly or indirectly in forex. Responsible authorities of such schools are warned that they risk de-registration of such schools. The breaching cannot go unnoticed,” said Prof Murwira.
He also urged the nation of Zimbabwe to work hard in ensuring that adequate resources available to ensure that education remains affordable for the majority and also to move in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education.
Concerning levy hikes in public schools, he highlighted that Government is set to conduct a meeting with parents so that they decide the amount they afford to pay.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the Government is in the process of assessing vulnerability of schools in all ten provinces as it seeks to empower them using a bottom up approach.
“When we talk about development, we want to move with equity and it is important to first consider the vulnerable schools that are dotted around the 10 provinces of the country. Currently, the Ministry is undertaking a processing of surveying and assessing those marginalised schools. As soon as the Cabinet approves our proposal, the public will be let known of the selected ones that need to be empowered,” she said.