owing to the economic realities in
Zimbabwe, students who can’t afford cash payment for school fees have been mandated to pay in kind.
The government of Zimababwe has assented to the payment of school fees by parents using livestock or labour for the
schools.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said over the weekend that
school authorities should be flexible and not turn away pupils because their parents have
no money to pay tuition fees.
“Our schools have to be flexible and ensure those who do not have money to pay fees
can work. For example, if there is a builder in the community, he/she must be given that
opportunity to work as a form of payment of tuition fees,” he told local newspaper Sunday Mail.
This was further elaborated by the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango who was quoted by the
newspaper saying payment using livestock is reserved for rural areas while those in towns and cities can pay by working for the
school.
This option raised divergent views from parents while the country’s teachers’ association called for a change in the policy.
“I do not think that it’s sustainable with regards to parents in urban areas … so many parents have outstanding balances.
Therefore, I am trying to imagine those 1000-plus parents coming to work at a school … Why spend time doing manual labour at a school when they can go there
to look for a good job?” Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association secretary-general John
Mlilo was quoted.
This development follows the recent tabling of a bill in parliament to direct banks to
accept livestock as collateral for cash loans to informal businesses.
The Movable Property Security Interests bill, if passed, will allow livestock and household
appliances to be acceptable as collateral after evaluation and registration by the central bank.
Cash shortages hit Zimbabwe last year after the government threatened to grab all
foreign companies operating in the country under the Indigenisation and Empowerment
Law.
Banks in Zimbabwe were compelled to reduce withdrawal bank limits for customers to as low as US$40 per day per
individual.
This has led to hundreds of ordinary Zimbabweans sleeping outside banks daily
to get the much need cash.
