Senators have demanded the full implementation of the free education policy mooted by the government.
This came out in the latest Senate Question and Answer session where senators inquired from the education minister on the progress of rolling out free education.
Deputy Minister for Primary and Secondary Education said the government is doing its best in the meantime through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
But the senators said assisted funding and free education are two different things and the government must implement what it promised to the citizens.
“My question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. Firstly, there has been a lot of talk and a lot of confusion at the same time with regard to free education that was announced by the Government. May the Hon Minister favour this Honourable House by explaining the Government policy with regard to that? Secondly, may the Hon Minister also favour this House by explaining the levels that are going to be covered by the free education? Lastly, how far has the Government gone through his Ministry to implement that policy?” Mashonaland Central Senator Eleven Kambizi inquired.
In response, deputy minister Edgar Moyo argued that the government is already implementing the policy.
“On free education, the Constitution and the relevant section, which I think is Section 75 speaks to progressively providing state-funded education. I normally want to call it State-funded education, not free education because it is not free. The State has always been providing a measure of that free education,” deputy minister Edgar Moyo.
“Let me begin by the provision of State-funded education through BEAM as a social protection measure to cover vulnerable children. That has been going on for quite some time. I remember we started off with about 300 children covered under that programme. It went on until last year when we covered 1.5 million children under BEAM. This year we are expected to cover 1.8 million children. The target has been the most vulnerable in the communities both urban and rural.”
Moyo said a few years ago, the ministry rolled out grant-in-aid tuition programme which was targeted to vulnerable districts in the country using the Zimvac report.
“The districts that were chosen were two per each rural province. That brought those districts to 16 in total. I can give examples of Matabeleland South, where I come from. There are two districts which are Beitbridge and Mangwe where the State is funding education in those districts in their totality and the same goes for all the other districts that is two per rural provinces. That is one measure of progressive realisation of State-funded education. In addition to BEAM, examination fees for all children who are beneficiaries of BEAM are paid 100% by the State.”
Chief Fortune Charumbira dismissed the explanation by the minister noting that the Constitution has different Sections that speak to free education and the one referred to by Moyo was not the relevant one.
“Minister, I would have wanted you to refer to the Constitution correctly. You referred to the Constitution but Section 16 says the State must take all practical measures to promote free and compulsory basic education for children, but I want to go to Section 75, which I think you referred to most,” Chief Charumbira argued.
“Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a right to a basic State funded education including adult education. You cannot act inconsistent to this one. In fact, you then referred to Section 71 (1) (a), now under (b) it then says further education. So, you have a right first of all to basic State funded education, it is a right. Basic State funded education is a right including adults. Then under (b) it says further education. This is beyond basic further education which the State, through reasonable legislative and other measures, must make progressively.”
He added, “Now there is a difference. They use progressive for everybody. Progressive is for further education but for basic, it is a right and it says they have a right to State funding. Section 72 talks of free compulsory. So, I am just saying what you have said is inconsistent with the Constitution itself.”
Minister Moyo promised to look further into the matter and prepare a report accordingly and present it before the august House.
