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He encouraged school heads to accept the directive and to liaise with parents and his Ministry if they were planning to increase levies.
“Levies have to be first approved by parents and the Ministry. All school heads that are planning to increase levies need the permission of the parents and I urge parents to consult their relevant provincial education directors if any school head tries to hike levies without their permission,” he said.
Minister Coltart said the Government still stuck by the policy that no child is to be sent away for failing to pay levies.
“I am working on new education regulations, a draft meant to improve the education sector which also includes the issue of how schools handle children who fail to pay levies,” said Minister Coltart.
He also said the only increase that was approved was that of Ordinary and Advanced Level examination fees which increased by $1 and $2 respectively.
Recently, the Government gave the State-run boarding schools permission to increase tuition fees for the first term of this year which is part of efforts to cushion them from high operational costs.
Ordinary and Advanced Level examination fees will be raised from $10 to $11 per subject and $22 to $24 per subject respectively.
Senator Coltart said most schools that applied for the review cited plummeting learning and teaching standards, rising food prices and deteriorating school infrastructure.
Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, the Zanu-PF Secretary for Education in the Politburo recently said the intention to increase fees by many schools this term was unjustified as it was set to impact negatively on the education delivery system.
He said it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure that it protects parents from unscrupulous schools that increase fees without justification.
Dr Ndlovu said the future of many children was bleak if they do not go to school and that the Government had the role to ensure that children access basic education.
Most parents have complained over the issue and said they could not afford new proposed fees as they were failing to pay the old gazetted ones.
Online Reporter