adminChronicle Reporter
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says it is committed to provide education to all the children even those that cannot afford to pay school fees.This comes at a time when the government is struggling to raise funds for children who are on the Basic Education Assistance Mode (Beam) scheme.
Beam pays fees for the disadvantaged children including orphans. At least $70 million is required to cater for close to one million pupils that require assistance under the scheme.
The ministry was only allocated $15 million in the 2014 budget.
Bulawayo deputy provincial education director, Richard Swene, said: “The constitution is clear on the rights of children as far as education is concerned.
“Chapter 4 part 2 section 75 states that every citizen and permanent citizen of Zimbabwe has the right to a basic state-funded education and adult education. The State must make it progressively available and accessible. Sending pupils away from school is a violation of this policy.”
He said by banning extra lessons and incentives the ministry was trying to ensure that children were not denied their rights.
During the just ended school holidays some schools in the province defied the directive and conducted extra lessons.
Online Reporter