BY ILYANA Sithole- Zimba WAVE MEDIA, HARARE
(ILYANA Sithole)For most people, education is an achievement. A stepping stone to poverty reduction, exposure to employment opportunities, a learning process for a better tomorrow.
Section 75(1)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe state that, “every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has a basic right to a basic state funded education including adult basic education”. Hence, while visiting schools earlier this week as part of his itinerary, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said, “the contract for examinations is between Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council and learners (candidate), on school fees, the contract for fees is between parents or guardians and the school”.
Therefore no school is expected to turn away students for failure to pay fees and levies.
Education is viewed as a basic human right that raises men and women out of poverty, leveling prejudice and ensures plausible progress in life. However, the current economy and alarming rate of inflation parents might fail to pay up front the school fees and that too in foreign currency not local. Minister Moyo reminded that, “in accordance with the Secretary’s Circular No.10 of 22, Government policy position is that school fees must be paid in Zimbabwe dollars”.
Being a passport that opens doors and expands opportunities and independence. The government in 2000 launched the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) to assist those with challenges to pay fees in government schools. Though most parents may shy away from asking for assistance, the programme is there to make sure that every child gets educated.
It is however saddening that all these efforts to educate every child may go to waste with the increase of dropouts in schools, with reasons varying from failure to pay fees or levy, buy uniforms, school supplies due to economic hardship and also perpetrators and pedophiles who lunch on vulnerable children. At the end of the day the numbers of girls dropping out of school continue to rise. Despite the fact that the Education Amendment Act of 2020 give a lease of life to the education option of pregnant girls and adolescent mothers which allows them re-entry to school while pregnant. It is difficult for the girls to return to school in fear of stigmatization.
Efforts to contact Director of Communications and Advocacy Taungana Ndoro where in vain to comment on whether the government has an online programme to accommodate the girls as some would be victims of rape.
Even so, this school term started of smoothly with most teachers reporting for duty contrary to previous terms when they demonstrated to press for better salaries by staying away from work.
