ALL schools opened smoothly last Tuesday as per school calendar.

There was concern that the outbreak of cholera in some provinces will affect the
planned opening of schools.

Gwanda District Schools Inspector, Sydney Sibanda, said all schools opened on
time without any challenges.

“All Gwanda schools opened smoothly with Form One and Grade One pupils getting
places where they were called and applied to.

“However, I cannot safely give out statistics on how many were enrolled for both
Form One and Grade One. We have a serious network challenge due to power
outages, hence school heads are failing to give statistics on time,” said Sibanda.

Prior to opening of schools, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education went
around schools to monitor the adherence of cholera protocols and procedures by
schools.

In addition, the Government warned rogue school administrators against holding
parents and guardians to ransom by turning away learners for failure to pay fees or
withholding results of public examinations.

The turnout for both teachers and learners was 100 percent countrywide with
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo banning schools charging
fees exclusively in foreign currency or forcing purchase of uniforms and stationery at
their institutions.

A snap survey, conducted by this publication revealed that parents were eager to
send their children back to school although prices of basic commodities and uniforms
were a big hindrance.

A parent of two boarding school going children said the government must curb the
price madness.

“As a parent I am happy that the Government intervened on school fees increment
and schools complied. However, the biggest challenge is on groceries. Most of the
basic commodities went up by 15 percent.”

Following the 2024 national budget, most retailers have since pushed the 15 percent
VAT to consumers and argue that they did not increase the prices but that this is the
Government problem,” said the parent identified only as MaBhebhe.

Sithembile Sibanda applauded the Government for introducing the e-application
system for Form One learners.

“The Internet application and selection for Form One learners is very effective and
professional. I did not have much of a headache after the release of Grade Seven

results because I got a phone call from the school where my son got enrolled for
Form One,” said Sibanda.

Background of fees

On charging school fees exclusively in foreign currency, Minister Moyo said in
accordance with the Secretary’s Circular No. 10 of 2022, Government policy position
is that school fees must be paid in local currency.

“No school, therefore, must force any parent to pay fees or levies exclusively in
foreign currency since parents are free to pay in a currency of their choice as
Zimbabwe operates under a multi-currency regime.

“If fees are pegged in foreign currency for value preservation, parents must pay
school fees in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate of the day the
transaction is made,” he said.

On purchase of uniforms and stationery at schools, the minister reiterated that
parents and guardians were free to purchase uniforms and stationery wherever they
find it cheaper in line with the specifications by the schools.

“Heads of schools and responsible authorities are therefore warned to abide by this
directive and desist from making it mandatory for parents to buy school uniforms and
stationery exclusively at their schools,” he said.

Minister Moyo said in line with Secretary’s Circular No. 3 of 2019, no school should
withhold results for Grade 7, “O” and “A” Level candidates while demanding
outstanding arrears for fees and levies.

“The contract of undertaking public examinations in Zimbabwe is between ZIMSEC
and the candidates while the obligation to pay fees and levies remains with the
parents and guardians,” he said.

Minister Moyo also said despite the fact that no school should turn away learners,
the parents and guardians should also play their part by paying fees on time to avoid
disruptions to learning.

“Parents and guardians are obliged to pay approved school fees and levies as
required by the school to meet its operational costs and overheads. No child must be
sent away from school for non-payment of fees and levies,” he said.

“In that regard, the contractual agreement on payment of approved fees and levies
remains with the parents or guardians and the school. The Ministry of Primary and
Secondary Education continues to strive to provide access to quality, relevant,
inclusive, equitable and wholesome education for all Zimbabweans,” the minister
said.