Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Torerayi Moyo, has issued a stern warning to school headmasters, cautioning them against expelling students for non-payment of school fees or withholding their results.
The minister was addressing heads of schools in the Bulawayo Province at St Columbus High School on Thursday, during a tour of schools in the province.
He emphasised that contractual agreements regarding school fees are between schools and parents, not the learners themselves, and any form of disadvantage to students is a violation of their constitutional right to education.
Dr Moyo underscored that chasing away learners or withholding their results is unconstitutional and goes against their right to education.
He urged school authorities to find constructive ways to motivate parents to pay their children’s school fees promptly.
“Chasing away learners or withholding their results is unconstitutional. It violates a learner’s right to education. Their results must not be withheld either. Imagine if a teacher is to call a learner to the front of the class and tell them that their fees is not paid, it would affect them. Their parents and guardians are the ones who are supposed to be called and reminded that fees had not been paid. A learner will not pay for themselves,” Dr Moyo said.
“The government will crack down on all those school authorities who are violating the law. We are compiling names and there shall come a time when we will come to you and you shall face the consequences. Schools must come up with innovative ways of making sure parents pay fees in time.”
He encouraged schools to devise innovative methods to ensure timely fee payments and advised school heads to engage with parents, explaining school projects and how financial contributions through fees would benefit their children.
Highlighting the positive efforts of some schools with at least 75 percent fee collection, Dr Moyo stressed the importance of extensive engagement with parents to garner their support and motivation to pay fees on time.
