Nust shifts graduation venue to ZITF

Chief Mahlathini of Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North has strongly condemned parents and guardians who neglect their responsibility to pay school fees for their children, despite having the financial means to do so. He has instructed the village heads under his authority to reprimand such individuals and ensure they fulfill their obligations.

In an interview, Chief Mahlathini, who oversees 166 village heads in his jurisdiction, expressed concern over the growing number of parents who, despite owning large herds of livestock, choose not to pay for their children's education. Instead, some families attempt to have their children included in the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), a government program introduced in 2001 to help orphans and vulnerable children.

"Paying school fees is every parent's obligation. Schools need the money to function effectively, but some parents are not fulfilling their role," said Chief Mahlathini. "I understand that some may genuinely struggle, but there are those with material means, including large herds of livestock, who choose not to pay school fees. Instead, they spend their money on things like alcohol. That is unacceptable."

The chief added that he had already spoken to school heads in his area, urging them to engage with village heads to help ensure that parents, especially those with means, pay their children's school fees.

At the beginning of this term, Chief Mahlathini convened a meeting with village heads at Dinyane Secondary School, attended by the District Schools Inspector, to address the issue.

"Government policy is very clear that children must not be chased away from school for non-payment of school fees, but this should not be abused. Beam is not meant for people who have the means to pay school fees," said Chief Mahlathini. "We cannot continue having uneducated children in our district. Our schools are underfunded, which affects their ability to provide quality education. Lack of resources, not the efforts of teachers, is contributing to poor pass rates."

A recent report by the Zimbabwe Livelihood Assessment Committee (ZimLac) revealed that 39 percent of children in Matabeleland North are sent away from school due to non-payment of fees. The situation is most dire in Binga District, where 70 percent of children are affected, followed by Tsholotsho (45 percent) and Umguza (43 percent).

Chief Mahlathini's call for accountability comes on the heels of a similar outcry by Chief Maduna of Insiza District in Matabeleland South. In February this year, Chief Maduna urged parents and guardians to fulfill their school fee obligations, stating that failure to do so was undermining the educational system and the future of children in his district. Chief Maduna, a former accounts teacher, emphasized that paying school fees on time is both a legal and moral duty.

The call from both traditional leaders highlights the urgent need for parents to prioritize their children's education, which they argue is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ensuring the community's long-term development.