Farirai Machivenyika
Online Reporter
JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has urged parents who make fee payment plans with schools to honour them, saying the Government will not interfere in such agreements if they default.
He was responding to questions by legislators on Wednesday on the Government’s position on schools that engage debt collectors to pursue parents over non-payment of school fees.
“Our policy is that in whatever arrangement pertaining to tuition, fees and levies, learners should not be prejudiced, and that is across the board,” he said.
“It does not matter whether it is a Government school, a private school or any other type of school. So, the arrangement for paying fees should not affect the learner. We have schools where parents willingly subscribe to certain conditions in terms of paying fees. The Government cannot interfere.
“If you agree that you want to send your child to a particular school and the school then indicates that we need our fees on the 5th of the month and if you do not pay your fees, you will disturb us and therefore the school will levy you an interest.
“If you sign that, it is an agreement between two parties. The Government will not interfere with that.”
Minister Ziyambi said it was important that parents honour their obligations to schools.
“So, I think if we want to be true to ourselves, we need to educate each other that if you have your child, it is your responsibility to ensure that fees are paid on time rather than for us to complain about interest charges or being handed over to a debt collector,” he said.
“It would be very strange indeed for us to believe that our schools do not inform the parents of what they owe and they simply send statements with interest.
“The fact that you receive a statement with interest shows that there is some communication that has been going on.”
The minister, however, said Government policy is that whatever arrangement is there, it should not affect the learner, saying they encourage school authorities to take action against parents instead of learners.
“So, what you have been asking about interest rates, that is the right thing and handing you over to debt collectors, that is what the Government encourages,” he said.
“Do not punish the pupil, give the learner their results and let them proceed with their education uninterrupted, but go for the parent.”
