Pay First, Get Results Later

Schools Tightens Grip On Fee Defaulters…..

By Shingirai Vambe

Zimbabwe’s education sector, already grappling with curriculum changes, rising school dropouts, and low teacher morale due to poor salaries, is facing yet another challenge — the illegal withholding of pupils’ report books over unpaid fees.

As the second school term draws to a close, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has received numerous reports that some schools are refusing to release learners’ report books to parents who have not settled school fees.

Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro confirmed the practice is illegal and urged parents to report such misconduct.

“We have dealt with a number of complaints that came through to our office via our hotline and whistleblowers across the country,” Ndoro told The Post On Sunday. “Withholding report books is illegal. We encourage parents to pay school fees on time and, where necessary, to make payment plans with schools so that their day-to-day operations can continue.”

Despite government policy allowing school fees to be paid in either Zimbabwean dollars (ZWG) or United States dollars (USD), some schools in Makoni District have reportedly removed ZWG account numbers from banking details, effectively forcing parents to pay only in USD.

Ndoro warned that such practices are unlawful:

“This is against government policy. Payments can be made in either USD or ZWG. The long arm of the law will catch up with any school not complying with this directive.”

Education stakeholders have warned that the combination of economic pressures on parents, policy violations by schools, and dwindling teacher morale could further widen inequality in access to education — and undermine the government’s own goal of inclusive learning for all.

Meanwhile, demands and requirements by school authorities have raised alarm as they are reportedly increasing and exceeding the required school fees for the term, further creating bottlenecks in the sector as the country’s middle class collapse, left only with the rich and the poor.

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