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THE Government has reiterated that it is illegal for schools to demand payment of fees only in US dollars, without providing parents with the option to pay in local currency.
Schools have been using exorbitant rates for those paying in Zimbabwe dollars.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has directed all public and private schools to accept payment in any currency in circulation within the country.
Parents have also been allowed to pay in US dollars or rand, which shall be calculated as per the prevailing bank rate.
In a statement, the Ministry said:
“The Ministry has noted with concern the demand for school fees and levies in USD by school authorities.
“For this reason, all public and private schools must accept all forms of currency payment obtaining in the country for school fees and levies.
“Therefore, the demand to receive payment exclusively in USD is not permissible and is contrary to the laws of the land.
“For the record, the Zimbabwe dollar is still the legal tender in the country.
“As a matter of fact, no school, public or private, should charge fees without the approval of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.”
Norton MP, Temba Mliswa, was dragged to court for allegedly failing to pay school fees in full, but he has argued that he paid in full using the bank rate.
Hellenic Primary School has been subpoenaed to testify in Mliswa’s case.
“The magistrate wants them to explain disparities involved in their exchange rates vis-a-vis the official exchange rate,” Mliswa said.
“Some schools have been literally extorting parents by using a black market exchange rate and this ultimately means parents pay way more than the stipulated figure.
“In some schools, parents are even stigmatised for daring to raise issues over such concerns.
“At times the stigmatisation is actually a form of perpetuating classes in society, and it’s worrying as many are not getting salaries in US dollars after all.”
Online Reporter