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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
THE Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora, has dismissed a notice circulating in schools alleging that Government has given schools the go ahead to engage debt collectors over non-payment of fees.
Speaking during a visit to Plumtree on Thursday, Dr Dokora said contrary to a letter that was purportedly signed by an Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, schools could not engage debt collectors.
The letter, which has been dismissed by the Minister, reads: “Please be advised that permission to market debt collection services into schools has been granted, but authority to operate should be granted by SDC and parents-teacher associations (PTAs) in schools.”
Dr Dokora dismissed the letter after Alan Redfern Primary School headmaster Mr Dumisani Ncube asked whether schools could now engage debt collectors following the communication.
“My Ministry has not given schools the go ahead to engage debt collectors neither has it given debt collectors the green light to market their services. This letter is not from my office and I will investigate where it came from.
“We still maintain that schools should not engage debt collectors but they must approach the courts. This has to be after schools engage parents first,” he said.
Dr Dokora said debt collectors were unscrupulous as they charge high interest rates, burdening parents in the process.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education recently announced that schools which decide to take the legal route to recover outstanding fees have to approach the Small Claims Court and not debt collectors — @DubeMatutu.
Online Reporter