Financial Gazette
4 May 2012
Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, David Coltart, has defended the latest school fees increases at private institutions saying there are far below what is being charged by other institutions in the southern African region.
Responding to a question posed on his official website by a parent who had asked why his ministry was allowing private schools to rip off parents, Coltart said in comparison to other schools in the region, local charges were reasonable.
The parent had expressed concern that the school fees increases were not being matched by salary hikes, leaving parents and guardians in a precarious situation.
“I am aware of this problem – the trouble is that fees at private schools are still way below what the region charges and for as long as that situation persists, we will see the loss of teachers to neighbouring countries,” said Coltart without disclosing what was being charged by private schools in Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland where some Zimbabweans, particularly government ministers, send their children.
“Good education is expensive. Having said that parents do have the right within schools to insist that fee increases be approved by the permanent secretary, which is what is laid down in the law. If you are dissatisfied, you should attend fee meetings and register your objection.
“If, however, the required quorum is met and the required number of parents approves the increases, you are then stuck with that decision,” Coltart wrote on his website.
Private schools are charging fees ranging from US$930 to US$5 000 per term.
Last week, most government schools also increased tuition fees and levies with effect from next term citing rising costs of running the schools.
Schools such as Borrowdale Primary School increased fees from US$200 to US$250 and Marondera High from US$460 to US$570 per term.