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Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Sunday News Senior Reporter
SCHOOLS should not send away, for non-payment of fees, underprivileged children whose fees are paid by the Government under the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), an official has said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango reiterated that it was not Government policy that children are sent home for not paying school fees.
Dr Utete-Masango said, equally, children not covered by Beam should not be sent away for non-payment of fees, but schools should engage parents on payment plans.
Her remarks follow reports that more than 300 000 schoolchildren under the Beam facility risked dropping out of school due to lack of funds and subsequent non-payment of their fees.
She said her ministry was in constant engagement with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, which administers the Beam facility.
“Our policy has not changed and the policy covers every child whether they are on Beam or not. Schools should engage parents and come up with payment plans.
“We keep flagging to the relevant ministry that these are the consequences on the quality of education if fees are not paid.
They (Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare) have always come up with payment plans which they adhere to.
“Every time they get something they pay and the money is disbursed to the relevant schools.
“They (schoolchildren) are not sent away,” she said.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Social Welfare, Cde Goodluck Kwaramba told Parliament recently that 338 000 children under Beam risked dropping out of school.
He said major donors had stopped funding Beam.
Presenting a report on the 2017 National budget, Cde Kwaramba revealed that only $10 million has been allocated for Beam this year from the required $105 million.
He said the amount, which is just 10 percent of what is required, will only cater for 161 102 children, from an estimated 500 000 children in need of assistance.
“As many as 338 000 children risk dropping out of school in 2017. Major donors DFID and USAID have stopped supporting Beam hence the need for the Government to support the programme,” he said.
Cde Kwaramba also revealed that Beam cumulative arrears to schools stood at $72 million dating back to 2014.
“Cumulative arrears for the Basic Education Assistance Module for 2014, 2015 and 2016 now stand at $72 million.
The ministry has been allocated only $10 million (10 percent) from a requirement of $105 million.
“This amount will result in only 161 102 children being assisted in 2017, from an estimated need of over 500 000 children,” he said.
Cde Kwaramba also revealed that funding for children in difficult circumstances was also short of the required amount, leaving a lot of children vulnerable.
“In addition to this constraint, children in difficult circumstances have been availed only $200 000 compared to the ideal requirement of $1,5 million and this will adversely affect that social programme,” he said.
Over the years the National Aids Council (NAC) has been supporting Beam through cash donations drawn from the National Aids Trust Fund (Aids Levy).
Zimbabwe has over 700 000 orphaned and vulnerable children who require various forms of support including educational.
Their plight has been worsened by economic challenges experienced over the past years, leading to many children dropping out of school due to lack of money.
Beam has assisted thousands of children whose fate appeared to have been sealed by lack of funds.
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