Herald
9 November 2010
By Gwendoline Mugauri
All schools charging registration fees for 2011 Grade One places have been ordered to stop doing so as it is against the law.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart yesterday said Government would take action against any schools charging registration fees.
This follows reports that some schools in Harare are demanding between US$5 and as much as US$300 for registration.
Minister Coltart yesterday said schools can only charge Government-set school fees and levies.
“We will need to carry out investigations to establish the truth about this matter.
“Government never approved registration fees for securing Grade One places. School committees will have to apply through their local education officers to be granted such approval.
“The law must be complied with and any school or school development committees that fail to comply will be brought to book,” he said.
Minister Coltart, however, referred questions on the Government-approved registration process to his Perma-nent Secretary, Dr Stephen Mahere, who said he would provide the details today.
Dr Mahere is on record as discouraging schools from charging registration fees, saying they can only apply for provisional or deposit fees/levies for registration.
Indications from senior Education Ministry officials are that the minimum requirement for prospective Grade One pupils is a birth certificate.
Schools are also advised to ensure that they peg a minimum age restriction of five years while the child must turn at least six by the second term of Grade One.
Some schools in Harare are demanding registration fees of up to US$300 from parents seeking Grade One places for their children.
Among the schools fingered by parents are Avondale, David Livingstone and Selbourne Routledge primary schools.
Some schools in high-density suburbs are demanding between US$5 and US$10 as registration fees.
According to a letter handed over to a parent who had secured a place for her child at North Park, failure to pay the registration fee will lead to forfeiture.
School authorities will interview the parents/guardians whose children/wards should wear a complete uniform on the day of the interview.
Affected parents and guardians have described the practise as daylight robbery.