Govt assures schools on BEAM payments

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Government has assured schools that fees for disadvantaged children under the Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) will be paid to schools as funds become available.

This comes at a time when some headmasters are sending home children whose fees are being paid through BEAM.

Speaking at the handover of 120 computers to 22 schools in Makonde District, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira warned headmasters against sending away disadvantaged children.

“It has, however, come to our attention that there are some school heads who are sending away students who are on the BEAM programme. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that no child should be turned away from school,” said Minister Mupfumira.

She said Government was making every effort to ensure that schools received the money.

Minister Mupfumira, however, bemoaned high number of children qualifying to get assistance under BEAM who are being left out.

“We are urging all school heads to closely work with communities surrounding them in identifying vulnerable children who should be part of the BEAM programme,” she said.

She said school development committees should also work with community leaders to identify vulnerable children.

At least one million children are classified as vulnerable and need assistance and government introduced BEAM to ensure they remained in school at the turn of the millennium.