Pupils denied O'Level results due to outstanding fees - fail to proceed to A'level

Hundreds of Ordinary Level graduates mostly from private boarding schools risk failing to further their education to Advanced Level after headmasters at their former schools have refused to issue them their November 2015 public examination results due to outstanding school fees.

Ordinary Level results were released by ZIMSEC two weeks ago and schools are in the process of enrolling learners for Advanced level classes that resume next week Monday. However a considerable number of learners remain at home as parents have not been able to clear fees at their previous schools due to the harsh economic conditions in the country.

Parents who sent their complaints through to Bulawayo24 News claim that the schools insist that all outstanding fees be fully paid before results are released to the learners. The schools are reportedly even refusing to issue confirmations of subjects passed so the pupil could proceed with their education while the school sorts the issue of unpaid fees with the parents.

The parents further claim that most schools do not even want to enter into a payment arrangement with the schools which would allow release of the results to facilitate their children to proceed with schooling while they settle the fees.

"My daughter is crying at home not sure what her future is going to be while the school refuses to release her results," says a parent with a child who was at a school in the outskirts of Bulawayo.

"I am a teacher and a single mother of two and owe the school $485 of which I was hoping to reduce considerable with the December bonus which still hasn't been paid and gradually clear the balance while she learns but the school won't release my daughter's results," said the parent.

"She will have to remain home for the whole year and go for her A levels next year when I have fully paid the school. There is nothing I can do if the school can not give us the results. I have spent two days at the school trying to reason with them but they just won't listen, I can't talk any more."

"I can only pray she doesn't fall pregnant in the year she sits idle at home" she added.

Comment on the matter could not be obtained from the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education but in previous statements the Ministry has warned schools against taking outstanding fees issues on children's and deal with parents even if it means taking legal action against they parents.