Maravi

(HERALD) School fees hikes imminent

School fees hikes imminent
Friday, 02 December 2011 00:00
Felex Share Herald Reporter

PARENTS should brace for an increase in school fees next year as Government is failing to adequately fund the education sector. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart yesterday said fee increases were unavoidable because the education sector had been under-funded for over a decade.

Some parents have appealed for Government intervention to ensure the margin of the increases are justified. The parents said some of them could not afford the new fees as they have been struggling to pay the current fees.

They labelled schools as money-hungry institutions bent on profiteering.

"The Ministry of Education should protect us. We are no longer living in the hyper-inflation era where prices went up everyday. The Government has provided textbooks to schools under the Education Transition Fund and we buy most of the stationery used by our children. Where is the justification for schools to apply for an increase in fees?" said one parent.

Another parent said education was slowly getting beyond the reach of the poor.

"It just keeps getting expensive. We are already overburdened by high school fees and teacher incentives. Further increases will exclude the poor from the education system."

Because of under-funding of the education sector, school development committees are now saddled with an extra responsibility of mobilising funds to award teachers incentives.

So far, over 100 Government and private schools countrywide have applied for permission to increase levies and tuition fees next year. Minister Coltart said most schools were justified to increase the fees because Government's support to the sector was insignificant.

"The sector has been starved for many years and schools are failing to run.

"If Government is not in a position to fund, then they (schools) have to look for other sources and obviously this means turning to parents and this also means a fee hike," he said.

"I am not surprised by the increase in the number of schools that have applied, but if there is no solution, then it means the schools will collapse.

"Of course, other proposed increases are abnormal and Government will look into that. But generally, the day-to-day running of the schools is difficult because of lack of money."

Minister Coltart said this year Government allocated US$66 million, minus salaries to education.

However, as of last week, only US$14,8 million had been released.

"It is simply a theoretical figure and unless that becomes an actual figure, the sector will not develop," he said.

For 2012, Finance Minister Tendai Biti allocated US$700 million to education.

Said Minister Coltart: "Looking at what has been happening in the past years, it is too premature to celebrate. The challenge is to turn this theoretical budget into reality."

Schools that have applied for an upward review of fees include Queen Elizabeth High, which wants to increase fees for day scholars from US$160 to US$180, while boarders will pay US$585, up from US$560.

Allan Wilson School seeks to increase fees for day scholars from US$200 to US$225, while boarders will pay US$495 from the present US$470.

According to the Education Act, a school that intends to hike school fees must do so in consultation with parents.

Parents' contributions are factored in during the school's budget formulation process which is normally done by the school development and finance committees.

After coming up with budget projections, the school then applies to the Secretary for Education, Sport, Arts and Culture for approval.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu concurred with Minister Coltart, saying this was the only way schools could operate.

"By under-funding education, Government is transferring the responsibility to parents. Since time immemorial, communities have funded schools and if we want our education back on track, it means someone has to pay and it is unfortunate the burden is going to the service's consumers.

[How about having the mining industry pay for it? - MrK]

"Inasmuch as we regret it, the Government's action is a clear sign that it has no capacity to fund education adequately," said Mr Ndlovu.

However, Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr Manuel Nyawo said if Government approves fee increases, then teachers' salaries have to be reviewed upwards.

"Teachers are part and parcel of the same parents who are supposed to pay fees. It does not make sense to approve fees increases while paying a blind eye to the stagnant salaries," he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said:

"This is unacceptable. The fees increases won't benefit anyone even the teachers. Education is every child's right and it is high time we confront the monster, which is failing to fund education than putting more burden on the parents."

Some schools have previously taken the Government to court seeking an order to stop the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture from determining their fees.

Labels: DAVID COLTART, MDC, NEOLIBERALISM, SCHOOL FEES, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 6:24 PM