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Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Evelyn Ndlovu has said they have engaged with the Anti- Corruption Commission to track done all schools that are demanding fees in foreign currency.
Speaking during Senate on Thursday, Ndlovu said the policy is clear that schools must not force parents to pay school fees in foreign currency but parents must pay in either local or foreign currency.
This came in after a question by Zanu-PF proportional representative for Seke-Chikomba constituency Tatenda Mavetera.
“My question is directed to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. What is the Government position on payment of fees which is currently obtaining in our schools? With the opening of schools, most schools have divided school fees payment in local currency and foreign currency.
“A number of parents may try the local currency portion but fail to get the foreign currency portion because it is not easy to get foreign currency on the official market and they are not remunerated enough to go to the parallel market where it is almost two to three times the official rate. Schools are refusing to accept those students, so what is Government policy regarding that? I thank you,” she said.
Mavetera added, “My supplementary question is that this is currently happening and children are losing out, including children who are in examination classes. What is the Government doing because the Hon. Minister has just articulated the policy but already children are suffering and we cannot reverse that suffering once that happens because they are suffering from an illegality which is being perpetrated in our Government institutions?
MOPSE Minister said, “I hear the Hon. Senator, illegality is a challenge in this country, I am sure and we are all aware that the issue of the black market; we have been trying as Government to address that issue but schools continue to break the law. What we have done is that we have engaged the Anti-Corruption Commission to track all those that are demanding foreign currency payments. We just pray that the Anti-Corruption Commission will do its part to assist us.
She added that people should report anyone who breaks the law.
“Mr. President, I think you are aware that as Government, we are in trouble in terms of the black market. It is similar to what is happening in schools and I call upon all our people to resist these people who break the law and report them to the Anti-Corruption Commission. I think the Commission can assist us. I thank you,” said Ndlovu.
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