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BEAM was set up in 2000 to provide school fees for disadvantaged pupils.
Minister Coltart said the British Department for International Development, which paid a huge chunk of the fees for the pupils last term, indicated that it would also stop funding the programme next term.
DFID promotes sustainable development and elimination of poverty worldwide.
“DFID has funded the programme for the past six months of this year and have indicated that they are not able to continue.
“This leaves us in the cold and much needs to be done because those children have to be in school. My ministry will be working hand in hand with Minister of Labour and Social Welfare (Paurina Mupariwa) to ensure that something has been done for the pupils,” he said.
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He added: “The permanent solution lies in working hard towards achieving our Millennium Development Goals.
“One of the goals in education is to achieve free education for all pupils in primary school. For this to be realised it calls for collective action.”
BEAM is managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Services for the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture
Minister Mupariwa said schools were in the process of processing BEAM applications for the second term.
“DFID paid for the first term and it is our hope that funding for the second term will be availed to assist the children. We hope DFID will pay the money that is going to be co-ordinated by Crown Agents.
“If that happens, then it means the children will be safe,” she said.
BEAM has assisted a lot of children in the country and has been doing a lot to meet the educational needs of orphans and vulnerable children.
Online Reporter