News / National
'Govt funded SADC Summit with BEAM fees,' Minister
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In a clear sign of extreme negligence, modern generational betrayal and gross breach of children's rights to education, details have emerged that the government diverted millions (US$) meant for Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) programme and opted to fund preparations and hosting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in August.
According to Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, the SADC funding preparations and hosting of the main event had negatively impacted both supposed school attendance and innocent beneficiaries.
Minister Moyo pleaded with parents to bear with the Ministry while promising that the government had already worked out strategies to correct the abnormality.
"I am aware of the unexpected school drop-outs, poor attendance and suffering that was caused when we withhold and delay in effecting payments of BEAM fees countrywide. We apologise to all beneficiaries and some struggling masses who were shortchanged," Moyo said.
"The money which was supposed to pay fees meant for BEAM was diverted into funding the SADC Summit and I know you are aware that we successfully hosted the event. It was beyond my control in stopping the spending on SADC Summit, but I promise and (you will) agree that from now onwards, you have noticed that there has been greatest improvements in terms of educational systems and policies," Moyo added.
"We assure all beneficiaries that everything is now in order and we will never shortchange all beneficiaries this time. We heard your plight and worst experience when we failed to pay for their school fees within the normal and expected time-frames," Moyo apologises to parents.
"We wish to correct and rectify that abnormality and make sure every child gets back to school and fulfil their educational expectations. We will see from Schools improvement grants coffers if we could assist in renovating some blocks affected by cyclones in Mhondoro," Moyo said.
"I will release US$5,000 from complementary funding and pledge it to Muzavazi Secondary School so that they will be developed from being a satellite school into a formal institution which will have an examination centre, ensuring construction of a lock room for examination papers security. From the information which we gathered here, we heard the Headmistress disclosing that since its inception (Muzavazi Satellite Secondary school), it boasts of a 12,5% pass rate in 2023, whilst in 2024 (last year), it improves to 19%, hence the need for us to construct that strong room to transform it into a formal one," he added.
Meanwhile, Minister Moyo has pledged to organise and host a party for Muzavazi primary and secondary (satellite) school if they surpass his target of over 50 (%) plus 1% of the pass rate within the next three or four examination years.
Meanwhile, Mhondoro-Mubayira legislator, Chamunorwa Chiwanza has donated 14 bags of cement for the renovations of Muzavazi primary school following destruction of one of its block by previous cyclones.
Local Councillor, Maxwell Zinyengere has pleaded with the Minister and Council Chairperson (Chegutu Rural District Council, Chirwa) if they could help in constructing small bridges for children to have ease access to school.
"Let me kindly request all stakeholders to contribute towards construction of small bridges which will enable our learners to attend lessons. Most Lerners are either missing lessons or dropping out of school during rain seasons because local overflowing rivers left them vulnerable to floods. We lost some learners to these rivers while misjudge and try to cross to school and some teachers are overburdened since they accommodate some learners when river flows are at full capacity fearing that they may be swept away," Zinyengere said.
"Let us contribute towards building small bridges so that kids or students will not miss lessons and it should be the duty of the councils to make sure that devolution funds will be used for development of such," Zinyengere added.
Minister Moyo announced to the parents that the Ministry has opaque funding for international development (ofid) and will therefore make sure that out of the donation which seeks to build about 50 schools, Mhondoro will benefit also.
According to Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, the SADC funding preparations and hosting of the main event had negatively impacted both supposed school attendance and innocent beneficiaries.
Minister Moyo pleaded with parents to bear with the Ministry while promising that the government had already worked out strategies to correct the abnormality.
"I am aware of the unexpected school drop-outs, poor attendance and suffering that was caused when we withhold and delay in effecting payments of BEAM fees countrywide. We apologise to all beneficiaries and some struggling masses who were shortchanged," Moyo said.
"The money which was supposed to pay fees meant for BEAM was diverted into funding the SADC Summit and I know you are aware that we successfully hosted the event. It was beyond my control in stopping the spending on SADC Summit, but I promise and (you will) agree that from now onwards, you have noticed that there has been greatest improvements in terms of educational systems and policies," Moyo added.
"We assure all beneficiaries that everything is now in order and we will never shortchange all beneficiaries this time. We heard your plight and worst experience when we failed to pay for their school fees within the normal and expected time-frames," Moyo apologises to parents.
"We wish to correct and rectify that abnormality and make sure every child gets back to school and fulfil their educational expectations. We will see from Schools improvement grants coffers if we could assist in renovating some blocks affected by cyclones in Mhondoro," Moyo said.
Meanwhile, Minister Moyo has pledged to organise and host a party for Muzavazi primary and secondary (satellite) school if they surpass his target of over 50 (%) plus 1% of the pass rate within the next three or four examination years.
Meanwhile, Mhondoro-Mubayira legislator, Chamunorwa Chiwanza has donated 14 bags of cement for the renovations of Muzavazi primary school following destruction of one of its block by previous cyclones.
Local Councillor, Maxwell Zinyengere has pleaded with the Minister and Council Chairperson (Chegutu Rural District Council, Chirwa) if they could help in constructing small bridges for children to have ease access to school.
"Let me kindly request all stakeholders to contribute towards construction of small bridges which will enable our learners to attend lessons. Most Lerners are either missing lessons or dropping out of school during rain seasons because local overflowing rivers left them vulnerable to floods. We lost some learners to these rivers while misjudge and try to cross to school and some teachers are overburdened since they accommodate some learners when river flows are at full capacity fearing that they may be swept away," Zinyengere said.
"Let us contribute towards building small bridges so that kids or students will not miss lessons and it should be the duty of the councils to make sure that devolution funds will be used for development of such," Zinyengere added.
Minister Moyo announced to the parents that the Ministry has opaque funding for international development (ofid) and will therefore make sure that out of the donation which seeks to build about 50 schools, Mhondoro will benefit also.
Source - Byo24News
