Chonicle
17 December 2010
Chronicle Reporter
THE Government will not increase school fees next year because it wants education to remain affordable to every Zimbabwean, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.
In a telephone interview, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, said the Government would prefer a situation where schools reduced levies, which at some schools were beyond the reach of many parents.
“Our fees structure is nominal and the Government would not change that,” said Minister Coltart.
“Fees are pegged by the Government while the levies and incentives are determined by School Development Committees (SDCs) in liaison with parents and that is where most concerns have emerged.”
Minister Coltart said the Government was aware of the problems associated with the payment of levies and said his ministry would negotiate with teachers’ organisations and SDCs to have levies reduced.
“The Government allows schools to determine levies according to their different and specific circumstances and in this case incentives are also part of the levies.
“Where parents agree on the payment of levies and incentives, the Government would not intervene. However, should salaries for teachers be increased next year, we will negotiate for a reduction of levies or incentives,” he said.
The fees for Government schools are pegged at US$5 and US$10 for primary schools in high density and low-density suburbs.
Parents with children attending secondary school in high-density suburbs are paying US$10 while those in low-density areas pay US$20.
However, a number of private schools increased their fees during the course of the year by about US$50.
Christian Brothers College pupils in Bulawayo for instance pay US$1 090 while those at the Dominican Convent are parting with US$1 200.
Minister Coltart’s sentiments come on the backdrop of a fierce fight between parents and school administrators over the payment of incentives and levies.
During the course of the year teachers have been going on strike while others went on go slow, in protest over incentives.
In some schools, pupils were turned away while others were barred from attending lessons for failing to pay levies and incentives.
While a majority of parents have called for the scraping of teachers’ incentives, Minister Coltart is on record, as saying incentives would remain until teachers are offered a competitive wage.