News / National
Paying school fees is unconstitutional, says MDC-T
25 Jan 2014 at 22:50hrs | Views
Government should prioritise and amend the Education Act to ensure that every Zimbabwean child is guaranteed free education in accordance with the new constitution, says the MDC-T.
The Zimbabwean reports that the MDC-T Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said it was unconstitutional for children of school-going age to pay fees because the constitution guarantees free education for every Zimbabwean child.
"Parents should know that it is unconstitutional to pay school fees. We should come together irrespective of political affiliation and compel government to comply with the constitution," he said.
Mwonzora is said to have attributed corruption and looting of the national resources by Zanu-PF as the main reason why development partners had stopped funding the country's education sector.
The MDC-T maintains that donor funding to the education sector has dwindled because the international community is tired of funding an illegitimate government 'known for being corrupt.'
The party's shadow minister of education, Concillia Chinanzvavana, said children's rights to education cannot be negotiated.
"After stealing the July 31 elections, it is now clear and evident that Zanu-PF has created political and economic turmoil in the country in all sectors of the economy," she said.
The MDC- T accused the education ministry of prioritising employment costs at the expense of pupils.
"The education ministry had budgeted $1,2 billion but received $865,669. Although this is 20 percent of the total national budget, it is of concern that 95 percent of this amount, which is $828,340 million will go to employment costs, leaving only about 3,3 percent to cover for operational costs such as the provision of material resources and infrastructural development," said Chinanzvavana.
The Zimbabwean reports that the MDC-T Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said it was unconstitutional for children of school-going age to pay fees because the constitution guarantees free education for every Zimbabwean child.
"Parents should know that it is unconstitutional to pay school fees. We should come together irrespective of political affiliation and compel government to comply with the constitution," he said.
Mwonzora is said to have attributed corruption and looting of the national resources by Zanu-PF as the main reason why development partners had stopped funding the country's education sector.
The party's shadow minister of education, Concillia Chinanzvavana, said children's rights to education cannot be negotiated.
"After stealing the July 31 elections, it is now clear and evident that Zanu-PF has created political and economic turmoil in the country in all sectors of the economy," she said.
The MDC- T accused the education ministry of prioritising employment costs at the expense of pupils.
"The education ministry had budgeted $1,2 billion but received $865,669. Although this is 20 percent of the total national budget, it is of concern that 95 percent of this amount, which is $828,340 million will go to employment costs, leaving only about 3,3 percent to cover for operational costs such as the provision of material resources and infrastructural development," said Chinanzvavana.
Source - thezimbabwean
