Beam sidelines disabled, secondary pupils

Sunday News

2nd March 2014

By Vusumuzi Dube and Kay Kaseke Sunday News Reporters 

DESPITE the recent unveiling of a $10 million boost for the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), it has since emerged that the money falls far short of the funding required, amid revelations that secondary schoolchildren and a number of pupils living with disabilities would not benefit from the facility.

The United Kingdom through its Department for International Development (DFID) on Thursday announced that $10 million would be provided next month to benefit over 250 000 primary schoolchildren in 5 415 primary schools throughout Zimbabwe this year.

In a statement, DFID noted that the funding was expected to contribute towards higher attendance and completion rates among orphans and vulnerable children.

“The UK through its Department for International Development (DFID) will provide US$10 million next month that will benefit over 250 000 eligible Beam primary schoolchildren in 5 415 primary and special schools throughout Zimbabwe this year. The funding will contribute to higher attendance and completion rates among orphans and vulnerable children,” reads the statement.

Previously, the fund has benefited both primary and secondary schoolchildren, with 550 000 benefiting; 400 000 from primary school level and 150 000 in secondary school. Since its launch in 2010, the fund has benefited over one million children.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said there was, however, no need to panic as Government would continue to seek more funds to assist more children. He said his ministry was still working on the modalities of disbursing the fund.

“Most people have been alleging that the fund will probably be scrapped or downsized, although at the moment I cannot give the exact figures on how many people will benefit this time around. People should not panic this early as we are still working on the modalities,” said Dr Dokora.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Nicholas Goche, under whose ministry the fund is managed, said the reason for downsizing was mainly because of funding problems but said the fund was still available despite fears that it would be eventually scrapped.

“The only problem is that the Government is finding it difficult to fund the facility but we are not saying the facility will be scrapped, we might downsize but this does not mean it has been totally scrapped, we will make use of what has been availed to us,” said Cde Goche, who refused to entertain further questions on reasons why the facility would only cater for primary schoolchildren.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, David Coltart said the facility had been underfunded for a number of years as under normal circumstances they required $50 million so as to cater for all children.

He said with the latest revelations it was apparent that the most affected would be the children living with disabilities as in most cases they were marginalised.

“All things being equal that facility should be funded to the tune of $50 million. Yes, naturally we are grateful to DFID for what they have contributed but as long as it is continually underfunded we will continue to have such problems and naturally not all children will benefit from Beam meaning we might have a sharp increase of school dropouts.

“In this case I especially feel sorry for children living with disabilities because as the funding dwindles they will be the most affected because they are always marginalised,” he said.

He said he was grateful for the donation that was made but it was not sufficient to cater for all children stating that the responsibility rested with Government not with donor organisations to raise funds for Government programmes and Government should make it a priority to fully fund such programmes.

Mr Ngoni Masoka, Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, last month wrote to all provincial education directors advising them of Government’s move to suspend Beam assistance to special schools citing funding problems.

“The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare kindly requests the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to convey the message to all special schools that Beam allocations to these schools have been postponed pending the outcome of your ministry’s discussion on challenges being experienced within special schools,” said the secretary.

An official in the social services and welfare department, told Sunday News that more than 420 000 children were reported to be still out of school and more were going to drop out as the fund only had $15 million.