Parents of learners at Helemu Primary School in Bulawayo have accused the school of emotionally abusing children whose families are unable to pay bus and stationery levies.
Several parents told CITE that pupils have been demoted to lower grades, barred from writing tests, and forced to carry out manual labour, including gardening and cleaning classrooms.
One parent, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said her daughter was dropped from Grade 5 to Grade 4 despite performing well.
“My child was doing well in Grade 5, but because I couldn’t afford the levy, the school moved her back to Grade 4. It’s heartbreaking and humiliating. This has been happening since last year,” the parent said.
The school charges US$30 per month for the bus levy, US$10 annually for stationery, and US$50 per term in tuition fees. Parents say the combined costs are unaffordable for many families.
“We pay US$90 per term for the bus levy, US$50 for fees, and US$10 for stationery. That’s US$150 per term or US$450 per year. Some of us simply can’t manage that,” said another parent.
Parents also alleged that some pupils who have not paid the levies are made to clean classrooms, work in the school garden, or sit on the floor during lessons.
“These children are being treated like janitors. Some are even beaten or made to sit on cold floors. It’s unacceptable,” one parent claimed.
Another said her child was prevented from sitting for a class test due to unpaid fees.
“My child was denied a chance to write a test just because I couldn’t pay the bus levy. That’s unfair. School should be about education, not punishing families for poverty.”
School Development Committee Chairperson Dennis Tavarwisa denied that the school was punishing pupils, saying the complaints were coming from a small group of parents with long-standing debts.
“We don’t punish children for non-payment. These parents didn’t attend the meeting where we discussed payment plans,” said Tavarwisa.
He said the school had offered flexible payment options, including monthly instalments starting from US$10.
“Some parents owe more than US$900. We’ve tried to be accommodating, but some refuse to pay anything at all,” he said.
Tavarwisa added that some families had misused funds sent by relatives abroad for school fees, citing cases reported by elderly grandparents.
“In one case, a Grade Two child said the mother burnt the ledger book used for payment plans. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
He also noted that some parents who applied for government assistance under BEAM did not qualify because they were formally employed.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the ministry would launch an investigation.
Ndoro emphasised that school levies are typically agreed upon by parents during Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
“In most cases, it’s the parents who approve these levies. If you don’t attend the AGM and then complain afterwards, that’s a problem,” he said.
He urged parents to actively participate in school decisions.
“When meetings are called, parents must attend. Resolutions made at AGMs apply to all, not just those who show up. If you don’t participate, decisions will still affect you,” Ndoro said.
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