Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Hwange
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo is today expected to meet school heads from across Matabeleland North Province at Coalfields Primary School in Hwange, where he is set to issue a stern warning against schools flouting Government regulations.
The indaba will focus on compliance with Ministry regulations, school heads’ preparedness for the forthcoming public examinations and concerns over schools allegedly continuing to defy Government directives.
Minister Moyo said the Ministry had noted with concern that some schools were disregarding basic circulars and directives, including the prohibition against sending learners home over non-payment of fees and levies.
He warned that school authorities found violating Government regulations would face disciplinary action in terms of the Education Amendment Act.
“We are going to focus largely on regulations. We want these regulations to be followed. I will give an example, we have basic circulars that we distribute and we have noticed that some of the schools in Matabeleland North and other provinces are in defiance, while others are turning away learners from school for non-payment of school fees and levies.
“We want to reiterate that if they continue to defy Government directives, there will be grave consequences in line with the Education Amendment Act,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the meeting would also address the issue of school fees, warning schools against forcing parents and guardians to pay exclusively in a particular currency.
He said Zimbabwe’s multi-currency system allowed parents to settle school fees using the currency of their choice.
“We also want to talk about the payment of school fees, that it should not be demanded exclusively in one currency. They should allow parents and guardians to pay in the currency of their choice. Zimbabwe is a multi-currency economy,” he said.
Minister Moyo also took aim at schools allegedly forcing parents to purchase uniforms from the schools, saying such practices were unacceptable where schools were inflating prices.
He said parents were free to purchase uniforms from any retailer, provided the uniform complied with the school’s prescribed requirements.
“Some schools also demand that learners should only purchase uniforms from their schools where they also increase the prices. Parents are allowed to buy uniforms from any retail outlet, as long as it is the correct uniform,” said Minister Moyo.
The meeting comes as schools prepare for the forthcoming public examinations, with school heads expected to account for their level of preparedness and ensure that learners are adequately prepared.
Minister Moyo’s engagement with school heads is also expected to provide an opportunity for the Ministry to reinforce Government policy on the running of schools and ensure uniformity in the implementation of regulations across the province.
The Minister is in the province on a tour of schools in Hwange and Binga districts, where he is assessing infrastructure, staffing and other challenges affecting the education sector.
