Minister warns against school fee evasion

Parents and guardians who deliberately avoid paying school fees despite having the means are undermining children's constitutional right to education, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo has said, warning that government is considering measures to address the issue.

Speaking at the National Education Summit Zimbabwe (NESZ) 2026 in Harare, the minister said education remains a fundamental right under Section 75 of the Constitution, but stressed that this right does not exempt parents from financial responsibility where they are able to pay.

The four-day summit, attended by about 3,000 delegates from government, development partners, the private sector and international organisations, focused on improving innovation and investment in the education sector under the theme "From Policy to Practice: Driving Innovation and Investment in Zimbabwe's Education System."

Minister Moyo said some parents are exploiting provisions that prevent the exclusion of learners for non-payment, arguing that this has placed serious strain on school operations.

He called for a clearer framework to identify and address cases where parents falsely claim inability to pay, particularly where learners benefit from the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a government programme intended to support genuinely vulnerable families.

He said schools were increasingly burdened by high numbers of BEAM-supported learners, warning that delays in disbursements risk disrupting school operations.

"We need to conduct rigorous assessments to establish whether such families are genuinely disadvantaged," he said, adding that abuse of the system was affecting the sustainability of public education institutions.

The minister also raised concerns about access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) education, noting that many young children in rural areas travel long distances to reach school, sometimes up to five kilometres.

He proposed closer ECD facilities within communities, saying no child at that age should be required to walk excessive distances.

Minister Moyo further emphasised government plans to expand ECD infrastructure funding, supported by the Treasury, as part of broader reforms aligned with Vision 2030 and the heritage-based curriculum.

He also urged a shift from policy discussions to measurable implementation, calling for the education summit to evolve into a permanent accountability platform rather than a once-off annual event.

"Education is everybody's business," he said, appealing for stronger participation from the private sector, development partners and the diaspora in supporting education development.

The minister reiterated that education should be viewed not only as a constitutional right, but also as a critical national investment with long-term economic returns.