STEM students kicked out of schools

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy minister Godfrey Gandiwa has said government is not aware that schools are turning away STEM students for non fee payment.

Gandiwa was responding to Glen View North MP Fani Munengami (MDC-T) in parliament on Wednesday who sought to know  Government policy regarding the processing of school fees for students who are under STEM vis a vis the opening of schools.

"... those STEM students are not being allowed either to get into schools whether they are boarder or not.  What is Government policy regarding the late payment of school fees to the relevant schools?  he asked.

In response, Gandiwa said, "I am sure we should be able to attend to the matter because we were not aware that there are students that were denied access to the schools".

"  The policy with regards to payment of the fees for students that are on STEM is that schools submit the invoices to ZIMDEF which in turn will pay the full fees.  I am aware of the issue that he has raised.

"There are certain schools that have not received the fees to date and I am sure the matter is being attended to.  I think by tomorrow the fees will have been paid for those schools that have not received the fees" he added.

STEM is a multimedia outreach programme which seeks to encourage students who took "O" Level examinations in 2015 with at least a grade C in Physics, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry in public schools to take a combination of these at lower sixth level.

The government is paying school and boarding fees for any student who takes these subjects at 'A' aLevel.