Govt warns private schools against illegal fees hikes

Masvingo Correspondent
Private schools taking advantage of the Covid-19-induced lockdown to increase tuition fees will be de-registered, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has said.

Addressing stakeholders during the provincial launch of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at Masvingo Christian High School yesterday, Ambassador Mathema said some private schools had increased tuition fees for their traditional and e-learning programmes.

Ambassador Mathema said the schools were literally burdening parents at a time when the country was battling the deadly global pandemic.

“Let me set the record straight here. No school, be it public or private, will be allowed to increase their tuition fees without the approval of the Permanent Secretary of Education.

“So far, we have noticed some private schools, which have taken the law into their own hands and written notices of fee hikes to parents during this lockdown period.

“We will surely close them if they do not comply with the laws of this country,” he said.

Ambassador Mathema commended Masvingo for having recorded zero positive Covid-19 cases.

Minister Mathema toured the splendid Better Schools Programme Zimbabwe (BSPZ) Centre, which houses Masvingo district education offices before touring PPEs production projects at Masvingo Christian High School.

The province has since trained 181 teachers specialising in various educational disciplines in the production of PPEs.

Minister Mathema said the purpose of the tour was to appreciate the preparedness of schools in Masvingo to contain the virus.

He applauded Masvingo Christian High School for implementing the Covid-19 Schools Response Plan recently launched by President Mnangagwa by manufacturing sanitisers and masks for students and staff.

Ambassador Mathema was accompanied by Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira, chief director of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Peter Muzawazi and provincial education director, Mr Zedius Chitiga among other delegates during the tour.