Government Releases Funding for School Fees

Harare(New- Ziana) – The government has approved a budget release of ZW$2.7 billion in school fees assistance for teachers’ children as part of a new pay package for educators, an official said on Friday.

Government decided to pay school fees for up to 3 biological children of teachers as part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of its workers.

The funds, the first to be paid under the scheme, will cover slightly over 100 000 teachers’ children.

Public Service Commission secretary, Jonathan Wutawunashe told a press briefing that a thorough vetting process to identify eligible beneficiaries had been conducted.

“In line with this commitment to improving conditions of service for its employees the government has approved a budget release of ZW$2.68billion towards the payment of tuition fees for teachers’ children.

“So far details of 103 556 children of some 52 171teachers from all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe have so far been identified by schools as eligible for this benefit,” he said.

“It was announced in February this year as a way of improving the welfare of teachers and as part of a host of other incentives extended to civil servants, the government made an undertaking to pay school fees up to three biological children for a teaching family paying ZW$20 000 per child per term and these payments will be paid directly to schools.”

Wutawunashe said parents whose children’s details have been provided would shortly receive the benefit in respect of term one which will be followed by the disbursement by the government of fees due for term two.

He said government remained seized with improving the welfare and working conditions of its workers.

“Government remains committed to improving the conditions of services and welfare of its valued work force,” he said.
New Ziana