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By Joyce Mukucha
Various private schools operating in Harare Metropolitan Province have been warned that if they continue to hike fees without government approval and proper regulation, they will face the consequences.
This comes as parents with children enrolled in private schools are raising a plethora of complaints against the operations of these institutions.
In a statement, the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr. Oliver Chidau, highlighted that the issues include the unsanctioned increase in school fees, the charging of fees at parallel market rates, the refusal of local currency payments, the banning of School Development Committees (SDCs), the mismanagement of funds and failure to submit audited financials, the contemptuous treatment of Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education supervisory staff, and discrimination by some operators of private schools in Harare Metropolitan Province.
“The Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution is inundated with complaints from parents and guardians. All schools that are operating without Government authority and those that increased fees without the necessary approvals are urged to immediately regularise their operations. The consequences are well articulated in the same Act that authorises their very existence.
“Reports from the Provincial Education Directorate also reveal that the majority of private and public schools in the Province did not seek Government authority to increase fees in 2022 but instead used authorisation letters dating as far back as 2013 in order to charge these latest school fees despite all increases being reviewed on an annual basis and approval of 20% of the parents,” the statement reads.
The Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution has since established through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that it has well over 400 unregistered primary and secondary schools operating illegally throughout the Province.
“These schools have operated illegally for many years and have a student population ranging between 300 to 1000 students respectively.”
There is an illusion that private schools are not subjected to the Education Act nor oversight by the Government.
“It, therefore, goes without saying that this gross indiscipline within the education sector in Harare Metropolitan Province has become a perpetual challenge to parents and guardians. Let it be understood that we shall no longer tolerate such ignorance and lawlessness. The Provincial Education Directorate shall immediately lead a whole of Government schools supervision programme before schools reopen in order to enforce the Education Act in its entirety, COVID 19 protocols, and to report all misconduct to the respective arms of Government.”
The office emphasised that parents and guardians reserve the right to request written proof of Government registration, municipal licensing, school fees increase authorisations, and refunds where increases were done without legal standing.
“Any form of misconduct, discrimination, or intimidation should be reported to the Office of the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. Please stand guided accordingly.”