School demands USD$400 entrance test fees, for form one places

A secondry in Harare, ST John's High School  is demanding US$400 entrance test fees from prospective candidates for Form One places next year, a move that has been dismissed as "daylight robbery".
The money being paid for "final interviews", is in addition to the US$20 the pupils paid when the school held its initial entrance tests last month.
The tests were written by over 500 aspiring pupils and the school needs three Form One classes for next year.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said schools should not use entrance tests as money making ventures.
"This is shocking. Although it is a private school, the pupils' places are not guaranteed and there is no need to charge that amount, he said.
"The fees they should charge should be enough to cover administration costs and paying invigilators. Education is no longer a preserve of the elite and everyone should have access to it."
According to a letter written to the parents by the school head identified as Mr Mhene, the US$400 is non- refundable and is not part of the school fees.
The school yesterday held what it called "final interview" that was attended by hundreds of pupils.
The other batch will go for the same interviews on Tuesday.
"Congratulations . . . You and your child are now invited for the final interview on 31 August 2012: 0900-1300," the letter from the school read.
"Please bring your child's baptism certificate on the day and two passport-size photographs. Your failure to attend this interview will forfeit your child's prospective place to those on the waiting list.
"Please bring a non-refundable development fee of US$400 which must be paid during the interview."
An official at the school yesterday confirmed the final batch would             come for their final interviews on Tuesday.
"A number of people are on the waiting list. We need three classes only and we are giving preference to those with cash," said the official.
Some of the parents who participated in the entrance tests said they were being fleeced of their hard-earned cash, but they had no option because their children needed the places.
"We have sent students to many private schools, but we have never seen a situation similar to this. This is daylight robbery and there is no explanation of what development fee is," said one parent.
Another parent said it was better if the pupils were guaranteed places.
"This is a day school and there is no need of such amounts. Government should find a way of regulating these schools," he said.
St Johns deputy head identified only as Mr Chaongora referred all questions to Mr Mhene who could not be reached for comment.
Government recently said it was working on a raft of measures to ensure mission and private boarding schools do not fleece parents and guardians through the entrance tests.
The move is meant to protect parents and guardians against schools that have been inviting unlimited numbers of prospective applicants to compete for limited places. 
Schools are required to invite applicants not more than three times the number of places on offer.