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Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Beneficiaries of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM)are being discriminated against as they cannot register for more than six subjects at Ordinary Level or do practical subjects, Parliament heard yesterday.
Presenting the first report on administration of BEAM in the National Assembly yesterday, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Goodluck Kwaramba said BEAM only paid for examination fees for six subjects at O-Level irrespective of the student’s ability to tackle more subjects.
“This ultimately limits future academic and career options for students whose parents and guardians cannot raise examination fees for more subjects.
“The committee also learnt with concern that BEAM beneficiaries at Zengeza 3 High School were not allowed to select subjects of their choice when registering for examinations of six O-Level subjects catered for by BEAM programme.
“The students informed the committee that they were instructed to leave out Geography, Commerce and practical subjects. This has the potential of disadvantaging students who perform well in these subjects. Beneficiaries at the same school are barred from fully participating in practical subjects, such as Food and Nutrition where they are only allowed to do the theoretical part of the subject and not the practical aspect, which is food preparation,” she said.
The committee also raised concern that BEAM only catered for school fees, levies and examination fess while most beneficiaries could not afford complete school uniforms, stationery and other basic needs such as food.
The committee called for feeding programmes at schools.
The committee, which visited several schools in Harare and Chitungwiza to assess the situation, said BEAM payments had last been remitted to schools during the second term of 2013 and the 2015 Ordinary Level examination fees had not been paid yet.
“Headmasters bemoaned that delays in payments derailed school development projects. Delays in the allocation of funds to schools and consequently late selection of beneficiaries creates uncertainty as to whether BEAM programme will pay fees or not,” she said.
Some of the challenges being faced by beneficiaries of the programme include late disbursement of the funds from the Treasury, rejection of BEAM funds deposited into school bank accounts and lack of awareness of the BEAM programme in communities.
Some of the Members of Parliament expressed concern that some students were withdrawn from the facility before completing their education.
They urged headmasters not to send away students under BEAM for late payment of fees.
The House heard that at some schools beneficiaries of BEAM were required to pay for examination fees in cash in advance and later be refunded their money.
Chegutu West MP Cde Dexter Nduna lambasted headmasters who sent away children under BEAM for non-payment of fees and said they should be sentenced to death.
But Buhera West legislator Cde Oliver Mandipaka disagreed saying the death sentence was too harsh. He urged parents with resources to pay school fees for their children and leave BEAM for the non-privileged.
The committee recommended that Government mobilise adequate resources to ensure that all children access basic education every year and ensure basic education is offered for free.
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