Govt must take over unregistered schools rather than close them: Nasdac

The National Association of School Development Associations and Committees (Nasdac) president, Max Mkandla, has urged Government to temporarily take over unregistered private schools instead of shutting them down, warning that closures would unfairly punish innocent learners who have already paid fees and resumed classes.

Mkandla's remarks follow Beitbridge Municipality's announcement that it intends to close all schools operating without registration from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The development comes shortly after Chief Murinye in Masvingo blocked the reopening of Riverton Academy until Government intervened.

Mkandla said closing schools at the start of the term would be disastrous.

"Now that schools are already open, Government cannot close them because they are not registered at this point, when innocent children have paid their first‑term fees," he said.

"This is the only way to move forward with the children and parents. As SDC advisors, we kindly request Government to temporarily take over these schools until they are fully registered. The Minister must ensure that school directors follow the correct procedures while children remain in class."

Mkandla also questioned how some of the schools were allowed to operate without proper permits.

"The Beitbridge Municipality or district town‑planning office must explain how these schools were issued with permits before this crisis. The municipality must work closely with these institutions on operating licences, town‑planning permits, and health and safety inspections," he said.

He warned that shutting down more than 20 schools would harm learners the most.

"It is too late to close down 20 or more schools. The children — our future leaders — are the ones who suffer. Let the ministry take over until the owners regularise their institutions so that learners can sit for examinations," he said.

Mkandla echoed sentiments by analyst Abigale Mupambi, who recently criticised the "wrong application of the law" in the education sector, describing actions by Chief Murinye and Beitbridge Municipality as retrogressive and harmful to children.

Mupambi argued that the Education Act was being applied in ways that punish learners rather than protect them.

"If the presidency of Masvingo Province says proceed because we respect learners, why should Beitbridge threaten closure of not one school but many?" she said.

"Good laws become bad laws when unfairly applied. Our children must be protected because they are the ones who suffer."

She added that Matabeleland was already facing severe educational challenges, making threats of mass school closures even more concerning.

Beitbridge Municipality recently issued a notice directing all unregistered schools not to open for the new academic year until they regularise their operations. The council said it would conduct a joint enforcement blitz with the ministry to shut down illegal institutions.

Residents have complained about the proliferation of unregistered schools, some of which have left learners unable to sit for public examinations due to their unregistered status. More than 20 such schools are believed to be operating in Beitbridge.

The municipality said many of the institutions lacked ministry registration, health and safety inspections, town‑planning permits and operating licences.

A comprehensive devolution legislative framework is being finalised, with the Devolution Bill expected in Parliament soon.