(TALKZIMBABWE) Govt slashes school fees by 93%

COMMENT - school fees had been cut to between $5 and $20 a term in state primary and secondary schools, down from between $20 and $280 announced two months ago, which parents said were unaffordable due to low wages and high living costs. They were and are unaffordable in ANY country where the majority of the population lives on less than $1,- per day. That is the reason why there has to be universal access to education and healthcare free of charge. But this is a good beginning move. I wonder who was behind it - the MDC or ZANU-PF.


Govt slashes school fees by 93%
Reuters/TZG
Tue, 05 May 2009 11:21:00 +0000

THE inclusive Goverment of Zimbabwe has slashed school fees by as much as 93 percent and averted a teachers strike on Tuesday after exempting them from paying fees for their children. Teachers had given the government an ultimatum which expired last week Friday

The government of President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is struggling to pay workers as Western donors continue to withhold crucial aid, demanding authorities carry out wider political reforms first.

Education Minister David Coltart said school fees had been cut to between $5 and $20 a term in state primary and secondary schools, down from between $20 and $280 announced two months ago, which parents said were unaffordable due to low wages and high living costs.

In contrast, parents at private schools have to pay up to $3,000 per school term.

The new school term opened on Tuesday with teachers' unions urging their members to report for duty after reaching agreement with government.

The government and unions had struck a deal late on Monday which exempted teachers from paying fees for their children in state schools.

"Teachers will also be exempted from paying school fees for their children as part of their employment package," the newspaper reported.

PM Tsvangirai said last week the inclusive Government was broke and could not meet union demands for higher wages.

All government employees, including President Mugabe and PM Tsvangirai, are paid a monthly allowance of $100.

-Reuters/TZG