The Sunday Mail
Pamela Nyabadza and Vimbainashe Chabata – Sunday Mail Reporters
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will not reverse its decision to allow school authorities to take legal action against parents and guardians who fail to pay tuition fees and development levies, a Cabinet minister has said.
Further, the ministry will work to ensure sufficient development levies are collected and channelled towards the construction of satellite schools.
Defaulting parents and guardians have expressed fear that this stance by Government is likely to see them lose their property if court orders are granted against them.
Many of the affected have invariably accumulated debts over several terms.
And with the third school term of 2014 opening this Tuesday, it is unclear whether or not school authorities will take legal action immediately.
The Sunday Mail could not immediately determine the actual fees owed to different schools, though information emerging from the parent ministry indicates most learning institutions are not expected to raise fees.
It is understood both Government and private schools are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the situation is worse in rural areas where parents and guardians are failing to raise fees as little as US$34.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora — in an interview — maintained parents should pay their dues, and gave schools the green light to pursue court action against defaulters.
Minister Dokora pointed out, however, that school authorities should first exhaust alternative channels such as payment plans with debtors before turning to the Judiciary.
“Schools can use legal means to get the money from parents who owe them. The opening day of school is announced in advance. So, we expect parents to have paid their children’s school fees as they are given reasonable time to prepare for the coming term.
“One cannot send a child to a boarding school knowing they have not paid school fees. The child needs accommodation and food, which is all supposed to be paid for. A responsible parent will know that their child’s school fees should be paid and on time as well.”
The minister said school development levies enable Government to construct additional schools and libraries, as well as purchase textbooks.
“The Government plays its part by providing infrastructure. It also supports learners through tuition grants and building grants, with parents chipping in through learners.
“Well-wishers can come on board with their particular contributions.”
Parents who spoke to The Sunday Mail criticised Minister Dokora’s approach, saying he was stirring a hornet’s nest.
Mr Mluleki Dube, who has children in both primary and secondary schools, said the minister should, instead, encourage school authorities and parents to explore more flexible tuition fee payment methods.
“Companies are shutting down; some are cutting salaries, and the economy is not doing very well. Government itself is negotiating with its creditors. Why then should it be hard on its own people?
“We have no money, but our children have to go to school. The bulk of those tens of thousands of Grade 7 pupils who drop out of school every year are not doing so on purpose — it is because parents cannot afford to send them to school anymore.”
Mrs Rudo Marufu of Harare’s Mbare suburb weighed in: “We paid incentives, practically bribed teachers to educate our children. Now we are being threatened with court action; what kind of nonsense is that?
“Parents and school authorities are still capable of solving their problems without involving the courts just as we have been doing for decades.”
Mr Maxwell Rafomoyo, a local educationist and official at Education Coalition of Zimbabwe, blasted Minister Dokora.
“Some parents are not even capable of paying school fees considering the levels of poverty in this country. As a country, I think we are taking this school fees thing too far.
“The Constitution says basic education is State-funded. Yes, Dokora has an instrument that he is using but it is at odds with the Constitution. I believe there is need for a social contract so that the ministry understands the situation that parents are in.”
