Online Reporter
By Sikhumbuzo Moyo,[email protected]
Lukhanyiso Primary School in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb has once again found itself at the centre of controversy after school authorities allegedly charged parents more than the prescribed Grade Seven examination fees for two years.
Instead of the officially gazetted US$15 per year, the school administration charged parents US$18 per year, remitting only US$15 to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) while claiming the extra US$3 was for administrative purposes, including purchasing sanitary pads for female learners.
Concerned members of the School Development Committee (SDC) raised the matter with provincial education authorities, including Zimsec and the District Schools Inspector (DSI) for Mzilikazi district, demanding clarification on the extra charges, which were unique to Lukhanyiso. Other schools were reportedly adhering to the US$15 per year fee, which learners start paying from Grade Six.
Parents questioned why the additional charge was necessary for two consecutive years and why it was included on the same receipt as the examination fees, despite only US$15 being forwarded to Zimsec.
Through SDC chairperson Mr Emmanuel Shoko, parents formally wrote to the Provincial Education Director (PED), copying the DSI, Zimsec regional manager, and acting Lukhanyiso Primary School headmistress, Mrs Sikhangeleni Moyo.
Chronicle Online is in possession of a copy of the letter, which reads in part:
“As parents of Lukhanyiso Primary School, we humbly request clarification on the authority used to charge us US$18 for Grade Six and Seven Zimsec learners when other Cluster Primary Schools are following the Government-gazetted US$15 fee.
We have come across Government (Zimsec) Finance Circular Number One of 2025, which other primary schools have adhered to. This raises serious concerns as to why our school administration is disregarding a Government directive.
Are our children being treated as private candidates? May you kindly assist us in securing refunds as soon as possible? Copies of receipts have been withheld for fear of victimisation.”
The letter is dated 18 February 2025.
Zimsec spokesperson Ms Nicky Dlamini confirmed that the official examination fee remains US$15 per annum and that Zimsec does not charge any additional administrative fees.
“Zimsec examination fees for Grade Six and Seven remain US$15 per year. If a school wishes to charge a special levy for examination administration, it should be charged and receipted separately from the fees submitted to Zimsec,” said Ms Dlamini.
However, acting headmistress Mrs Moyo dismissed the claims, denying that parents were being refunded and instead questioning who had reported the issue to the media.
“There is nothing of that sort. People just want to tarnish the image of this school. Why should we have refunds? It is not true that we are refunding anyone,” said Mrs Moyo.
Contrary to her statement, a Chronicle news crew visited the school administration offices posing as parents and was informed that refunds were indeed being processed between 8 AM and 9 AM daily.
Lukhanyiso Primary School is no stranger to controversy.
• February 2023: Parents accused the school of purchasing a defective second-hand bus at the price of a brand-new one.
• January 2024: The school allegedly borrowed US$150 from an SDC member, withdrawing the money from the General Purpose Fund (GPF), which only the administration is authorised to sign for.
• September 2024: A coffin that had been stored inside a Grade Three classroom for four years was finally removed after outcries from parents.
With the latest scandal adding to its troubled history, parents are demanding accountability and urgent intervention from the authorities.
Bongani Ndlovu