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The government has come up with an innovative strategy to ease the challenge parents and guardians of pupils writing public examinations face every year. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora is quoted on the front page of this edition saying Cabinet has approved a plan under which parents and guardians can stagger payment of school fees over two years.
The shorter period of old, usually two months or so, over which parents and guardians were supposed to have paid examination fees, often around the same time they must pay school fees as well, meant that they struggled to raise enough money for both obligations. Traditionally, exam fees are paid during the first term of every year. There can be no denying that many parents have actually failed to pay both regular school fees for the first term and examination fees at the same time. As a result, some pupils may have failed to write their final examinations, a situation that obviously poses long- term challenges for the child and wider negative implications to access to education in the country.
This is now history as the new system takes effect beginning this year.
A circular released by a school in Harare to parents reads: “We have been advised that Cabinet has approved a staggered payment of examination fees for those currently in Form 3 and 4. This means that they can start paying their examination fees now. However, no part payments for subject(s) will be accepted.”
The circular goes on to explain on the payments: “Those who would like to use the staggered approach should pay for a specific subject(s), at least one this term for ‘A’ Level and at least two subjects this term for ‘O’ Level. The current examination fees (for 2015) will be accepted — ‘A’ Level subject fee $26.00, additional fee for practical subject $17.00 (agriculture and biology). ‘O’ Level subject fee $15.00, additional fee for practical subject $15.00. All examination fees will be accepted at the school during working hours before 12.30 PM.”
This is indeed a noble move that will lessen the burden parents, guardians and pupils themselves endure in meeting the rising cost of education.
The prevailing economic challenges are making it difficult for the majority to meet many of their financial obligations. Thousands of people are losing jobs, and incomes, as firms close down or streamline their operations. The few who remain on jobs are poorly paid. The salaries are barely enough to meet the most basic needs like food, accommodation and clothing. In many cases, equally important obligations like the need to pay for education regrettably become wants that can be met later when the economic difficulties ease. This must not be the case for education is important. Parents and pupils are relieved. Minister Dokora is happy too.
“I’m very, very satisfied with that development,” he said, “because it means for the first time in many years I am able to assure the teachers who are going to mark the exams that they will be paid on time and those that supply ancillary services such as accommodation, catering for the markers, I can assure them that they will be paid on time. — That allows us as a system to say to Zimsec, produce the results on time and ensure that we do not carry any gaps with any of the examiners.”
Indeed the flexible arrangement has broader positive implications to easier access to education and the integrity of the examination management system in the country, as the minister notes. Yearly, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council comes under fire for failing to pay markers on time and being “lax” in securing examination papers. It didn’t occur to many critics of the examination body that some of the reasons behind these challenges are a result of inadequate resources.
Going forward, we expect parents and guardians to take advantage of the payment plan. On the other hand, we anticipate that Zimsec’s financial position will improve as parents and guardians should be better able to pay exam fees and more children are able to write their final public tests. When the body’s financial position improves, the delivery ought to improve as well. When that happens, the public’s trust in Zimsec’s work would be restored. In the end, the integrity of our education system would be secured.
Online Reporter