Schools demand top up fees

SOME boarding schools in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces have written to parents demanding that they pay school fees top ups for the remaining three weeks of the term to cater for food following a spate of price increases that hit the country in October.

One of the schools in Matabeleland South, Matopo High School is demanding $100 top up while some of the schools are demanding amounts ranging from $50 to $100. Provincial education directors in the provinces confirmed the move by schools although they said they were private arrangements between the schools management and the parents.

Bulawayo provincial education director Mrs Oricah Kaira confirmed that she has received reports to that effect although they indicate that the proposals came from parents who demanded that they pay top ups after schools complained they could no longer feed the pupils.

"The current situation has affected our boarding schools in the city, there is a need for supplementary feeding from the parents at some schools so that our pupils can be cushioned during this time. Although the schools have not communicated officially I understand that they are proposing some form of top ups. We cannot keep up with the sky rocketing of prices in the shops so parents have seen the need to have top ups. Our budgets for the year were greatly affected by the price increases, we were not expecting it at all."

Matabeleland South PED, Mr Lifias Masukume also confirmed that boarding schools in the province were demanding top ups.

"I have heard that School Development Committees (SDCs) in some of our schools have met and agreed to have top ups as they wait for official communication from the Permanent Secretary which will justify the top ups. However, the parents and SDCs have agreed to pay the top ups either way so that pupils do not go hungry, but that is a decision of the parents, not us," he said.

Matabeleland North PED Mr Jabulani Aggrey Mpofu said schools had to introduce stop gap measures to deal with the situation.

However, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavhima said all schools should first apply to the ministry to get permission to increase fees or levies.

"It is illegal to raise school fees because of the current situation, any institution that feels their fees must be raised or that students pay a top up now must do it in liaison with the Permanent Secretary. Schools are not allowed to make parents pay extra without consultation," he said.

Prof Mavhima said the schools should follow correct channels to ensure they get necessary approval. He also said it was illegal for schools to demand that parents pay in foreign currency. Some private schools have reportedly informed parents that next year, they must pay fees in foreign currency.

"Schools should not do that, they shall be dealt with severely as we would assign our Permanent Secretary to investigate and take serious disciplinary measures to correct these acts," he said.

The minister said due to the current situation schools should not increase their fees as it would bring burden to parents in trying to raise the money.

"What we are saying is that it is not a must that parents should pay fees in foreign currency but it should be out of their will then there is no problem. We cannot really force someone to pay money in forex but we can only control the schools not to demand foreign currency only. Schools should have it in mind that they cannot anyhow demand any fees or levies in forex and schools all over the country should desist from that as they should seek permission from the Government. They should consult our secretary first before making any decisions on their own," Prof Mavhima said.