Govt takes over SDA accounts

Debra Matabvu
Government is finalising a legal framework to remove control of funds from school development associations following revelations of widespread abuse of money by the latter. The Primary and Secondary Education Ministry will consolidate all SDA bank accounts, which last year reportedly handled US$1,2 billion in fees and levies.

The Sunday Mail has gathered that Government has already finalised alignment of the Education Act with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and with effect from next term, each school will establish a single School Services Fund.

According the Education Amendment Act (2006) Section 38(2), all registered schools should have a School Services Fund where all money paid as fees and levies is deposited.

An audit instituted by the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry last year revealed that more than US$1,2 billion in development levies was circulating in Government and mission schools, with a lot of it being abused by heads, bursars and SDA officials.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government would create a National Building Fund which schools would tap into for infrastructure development.

He said pupils would contribute a certain amount towards the National Building Fund every term.
“A national consultative process will soon commence and will last into December, 2016. This means that, finalisation will be in early 2017, immediately followed with implementation of the Statutory Instrument(s) and the initiation of joint venture partnerships (JVPs),” Prof Mavima said.

“The SI will come into effect in early 2017 after completion of the consultation process and consideration of the suggestions of our stakeholders. The consultation process will take much of the month of December, 2016.

“The SDA and (School Development Committee) instruments are being rationalised so that a single governance regime can be instituted and there is uniformity in the manner in which schools are governed.

“Within the governance issue, there is also going to be the issue of the National Building Fund and how it will be populated with resources that will allow the ministry to fully implement JVPs as a way of resolving the massive school infrastructure deficit that the nation faces.”

Zimbabwe School Development Associations and Committees president Mr Claudio Mutasa said there was need for Government to consider workers employed by SDAs.

“Our main concern is the staff that is employed by these SDAs. At the moment Government is not employing — how are these going to be paid?” he asked. “There is also a reason why levies were left to be administered by parents, why is it being over turned now and have those issues been rectified?”
SDAs were established at the recommendation of the 1998/1999 Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training chaired by Dr Caiphas Nziramasanga.

The commission reasoned that involving parents in school affairs would improve learning standards and spur development via resource mobilisation.
It underscored how grassroots participation could cultivate ownership and commitment among parents.