THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry has called on MPs to report schools that are chasing pupils away for non-payment of tuition fees.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
Speaking during question time in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Paul Mavima said the government had a position that no pupils should be sent home for non-payment of fees.
Mavima was responding to Bulawayo East MP Tabitha Khumalo who wanted to know the fate of civil servants’ children whose parents received salaries late.
“Sir, I would like to thank the honourable member for the question, but it is an issue that we have already taken care of as a ministry. We have clearly indicated that no pupil should be sent back home for non-payment of levies or fees,” Mavima said.
“There have been some schools that have sent pupils away. We had a case, for example, of Nagle House, which was televised last week. We immediately dispatched our staffers to go and deal with that situation.
“Honourable members of this House should help us by indicating which schools are doing that so that we can deal with those cases. Otherwise, it is very clear that pupils should not be sent back for non-payment. We have made that position clear from last year and this term as well.”
MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe (pictured) said pupils had been sent home for failure to produce proof of fees payment.
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She asked Mavima if it was possible for his ministry to write a circular announcing their position.
“My initial submission should have indicated that a circular has already been sent to schools. What we are asking for is for honourable members and the public to help us with the enforcement of this position that we have already taken as a ministry,” he said.
“In situations like the one that Khupe has referred to, we would want to get specific information so that our officers within the ministry can follow up on those cases.”
MDC-T Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure inquired if the policy applied to private schools, saying in some scenarios parents would pay $700 of the $1 500 fees, but still have their children barred from class.
“Our system of education does not differentiate between private and government schools. When we send out circulars; put up policy positions, they apply to all schools equally,” Mavima responded.
MDC-T legislator for Musikavanhu, Prosper Mutseyami, said in some schools children who did not pay fees were made to sit in a separate class where they would spend the whole day playing while others were learning.
He said in some instances non-paying pupils were made to sit facing the opposite direction while those who paid fees continued with lessons.
“The allegation being raised by the honourable member is very painful. It is also a touching issue to honourable members in the august House because if such a situation is happening, it means there is an abrogation of the children’s rights towards learning. We are undermining their rights,” Mavima said.
