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Remove US$2,500 registration fee for private colleges in Zimbabwe
3 hrs ago | Views
Education stakeholders have called on the Government to reconsider the US$2,500 annual registration fee that private colleges must pay to the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), arguing that the levy disadvantages some learners and infringes on their right to education.
The concerns were raised during a public hearing on the Zimbabwe Schools and Council Amendment Bill currently before Parliament. Stakeholders highlighted the growing role of private colleges in supplementing government efforts, particularly in areas where public schools are scarce.
"The US$2,500 makes it expensive for some learners to register for examinations. We believe the Government should not discriminate against private colleges," said Mr Elliott Dzindikwa, director at Trust Academy.
Professor Washington Mahiya of the Association of Independent Colleges of Zimbabwe echoed similar sentiments, noting that many private colleges are located in new settlements without government schools. "We believe that the fees should be the same whether it is a Government, council, mission school or private college. The colleges are playing a big role, especially in new settlements where there are no Government schools," he said.
Currently, the government subsidises examination fees for pupils in public, council-owned, and mission schools, while students in private colleges pay the full fees.
Concerns were also raised about examination security. Ms Tendai Munatsi recommended that penalties for examination cheating be increased from the proposed two-year jail term in the Bill to five years, without the option of a fine.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association welcomed the creation of a new chief executive officer post at ZIMSEC, saying it will improve accountability. Spokesperson Ms Daisy Zambuko also suggested that ZIMSEC should handle the distribution of examination papers internally rather than relying on private players to ensure security.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Supa Mandiwanzira, emphasised the need to strengthen ZIMSEC to enhance its credibility. "Our students who have written ZIMSEC examinations are accepted by international universities in the same way as those who have written Cambridge examinations. What is needed is to ensure that we make ZIMSEC an examination board of choice regionally and even globally," he said.
The concerns were raised during a public hearing on the Zimbabwe Schools and Council Amendment Bill currently before Parliament. Stakeholders highlighted the growing role of private colleges in supplementing government efforts, particularly in areas where public schools are scarce.
"The US$2,500 makes it expensive for some learners to register for examinations. We believe the Government should not discriminate against private colleges," said Mr Elliott Dzindikwa, director at Trust Academy.
Professor Washington Mahiya of the Association of Independent Colleges of Zimbabwe echoed similar sentiments, noting that many private colleges are located in new settlements without government schools. "We believe that the fees should be the same whether it is a Government, council, mission school or private college. The colleges are playing a big role, especially in new settlements where there are no Government schools," he said.
Concerns were also raised about examination security. Ms Tendai Munatsi recommended that penalties for examination cheating be increased from the proposed two-year jail term in the Bill to five years, without the option of a fine.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association welcomed the creation of a new chief executive officer post at ZIMSEC, saying it will improve accountability. Spokesperson Ms Daisy Zambuko also suggested that ZIMSEC should handle the distribution of examination papers internally rather than relying on private players to ensure security.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Supa Mandiwanzira, emphasised the need to strengthen ZIMSEC to enhance its credibility. "Our students who have written ZIMSEC examinations are accepted by international universities in the same way as those who have written Cambridge examinations. What is needed is to ensure that we make ZIMSEC an examination board of choice regionally and even globally," he said.
Source - The Herald
