Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
ALL is set for the re-opening of schools for the second term on Tuesday, with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education issuing stringent guidelines to ensure financial compliance and equitable access to education.
The guidelines, aimed at stabilising school fee transactions and upholding monetary policies, mandate adherence to multi-currency regulations, interbank exchange rates, and flexible payment arrangements for parents.
In a statement, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education emphasised that in line with Zimbabwe’s multi-currency system, schools are prohibited from demanding fees exclusively in US dollars.
“The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) remains a legal tender for school transactions, alongside other currencies in the multi-currency basket. Parents/guardians may pay fees in any currency of choice (ZiG, USD, etc). Schools must not demand exclusive USD payments, and non-compliance will result in disciplinary action,” the statement read.
The Ministry reiterated the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s directive of 12 March 2025, which states that the exchange rate determined in the foreign exchange market by banks is the one that should be used to guide the pricing of all goods and services in the economy.
“Therefore, no other business entity (schools included) outside the interbank market should determine the exchange rate. Schools must strictly adhere to the official interbank rate for fee conversions. Unilateral rate-setting is prohibited, and violations will be escalated to monetary regulatory authorities,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry further stated that parents and guardians are contractually obligated to pay approved fees and levies to support school operations. However, no pupil shall be excluded from classes, examinations, or activities due to unpaid fees.
Instead, schools are encouraged to collaborate with families to establish flexible payment plans.
With regard to the June public examinations, the Ministry instructed all schools to ensure the smooth registration of candidates for the 2025 O-level and A-level examinations.
“Administrators are directed to assist all eligible candidates to register without delay up until the closing date for the Zimsec examinations mop-up registration exercise, which is 16 May 2025,” the statement continued.
Furthermore, the Ministry reiterated that parents and guardians are free to purchase uniforms and stationery wherever they find them more affordable, provided they meet school specifications.
“Heads of Schools and Responsible Authorities (whether Government or non-Government) are therefore warned to abide by this directive and desist from making it mandatory for parents to purchase school uniforms and stationery exclusively from their schools,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive, compliant, and stable learning environments, stating that adherence to these guidelines would ensure a productive second term for all pupils.
Meanwhile, the Government is intensifying efforts to address the surge in school drop-outs through a multi-pronged strategy aimed at identifying the root causes and improving learner retention, particularly in provinces with the highest attrition rates.
This follows revelations that over 49 000 primary and secondary school children dropped out of school last year.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Angeline Gata, disclosed that a total of 33 746 secondary school learners discontinued their education in 2024, with Manicaland Province recording the highest figure at 4 842.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, however, showed commendable progress, recording the lowest secondary school drop-out rate at 657, a testament to collaborative efforts between local authorities and community stakeholders.
At primary level, 15 809 children left school prematurely. Mashonaland Central Province reported the highest number at 3 052, while Bulawayo’s primary schools recorded just 285 drop-outs — the lowest across all provinces.
Deputy Minister Gata stated that the Ministry had launched a programme to determine the causes behind the high drop-out rates.
“We have embarked on a programme we call the Early Warning System. This initiative will help us identify the causes of school drop-outs at both primary and secondary level.
“We are training our teachers to identify communities in need of support. We are doing this in partnership with Unicef, and it has been ongoing for six months. It has already commenced in schools, and as we speak, staff training is underway,” said Deputy Minister Gata. — @nyeve14
