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State shuts down 45 private schools
Beatrice Tonhodzayi, The Herald
May 04, 2004

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=31526&pubdate=2004-05-04

The showdown between the Government and private schools intensified yesterday as Government toughened its stance and began shutting down some private boarding schools that had opened ahead of today's start to the second school term, for increasing school fees without its approval.

About 30 000 children are affected.

Police officers were yesterday deployed to 45 private schools throughout the country that had allegedly refused to abide by the Government's order not to increase school fees, to ensure that these schools do not open for classes today.

Boarders at some of these schools were turned away when they arrived for the new school term and those who had moved in at the weekend were picked up by their parents yesterday.

Police chief spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday confirmed that the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture had furnished the police with a list of the schools that it said had not conformed with its requirements.

The Education Act, which governs the operations of schools in the country, stipulates that no responsible authority of a non-Government school may charge a fee, or increase a fee by more than the prescribed amount, without seeking approval from the Secretary for Education.

The maximum increase in the absence of approval is 10 percent a year, but most private schools have continued to disregard this regulation, arguing that this fell far short of the cost of providing a decent education and maintaining school facilities.

In Harare, some private schools had by yesterday evening heeded the call not to reopen until they come to an agreement with Government over the fees and levies to be charged.

However, others opened their doors and boarders could be seen settling in after police officers had left the premises.

At St George's College, parents could be seen dropping off their children late yesterday afternoon, while St John's College in Borrowdale remained closed.

A notice at the entrance at St John's College advised parents that the school was closed following a Government directive that it remains shut until further notice.

At Bishopslea staff were turning away boarders, telling them that the school had been closed despite the fact that the school had fixed no fee nor sent out any invoices and was still waiting for the ministry to reply to its application.

Parents blocked from entering school premises yesterday afternoon after police moved in were generally angry at the move.

Many of these parents were coming to pay the new fees before the rush today and said they should have the right to pay for the facilities offered by the schools.

They said they had agreed to the increases and saw no reason why they should not be allowed to pay.

Some parents with children in private schools said it was unfair for the Government to close down schools when they had already paid the new higher fees.

They said it would have been better if lessons had been allowed to go on while the issue was being resolved.

"We have already paid the fees and levies being demanded. So what happens to our money now?" said one parent.

Many parents phoned the Herald to find out whether the schools that their children attend would be affected.

Most were extremely vehement in opposition or support of the move. While those who opposed voiced similar concerns to those blocked from paying fees yesterday, others said they were in support of the latest action by the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, Cde Aeneas Chigwedere, saying it was "high time" he acted in such a "decisive manner".

They said for a long time, private schools had ceased to take notice of what the minister said, giving the impression that they viewed his directives as "empty threats".

Despite Government having stated at the beginning of the year that schools should not raise fees and levies without its written approval, some schools, including those run by the Government, continued to increase the fees.

While expressing regret that pupils of the affected schools would have to miss lessons, Cde Chigwedere yesterday remained resolute that the schools would not be opened until they complied with Government regulations.

He said private schools were governed by the laws of Zimbabwe and, as such, should abide by those laws if they wanted to stay in operation.

Several schools have said that they have not had their fee proposals either accepted or rejected, some for several terms.

On these allegations that the ministry was taking too long to respond to proposals to hike fees, Cde Chigwedere said these were "outright lies".

He said, under the Education Act, schools were only allowed to apply for authority to increase fees once a year.

"They are supposed to apply once. If they need an adjustment in the middle of the year, they have to justify why. As far as I am concerned, these schools did not do that. They increased fees during the first term without approval and they went on to increase them further this term," he said.

Cde Chigwedere said even if the ministry took long to grant authority to increase fees, the schools should still wait before making any changes.

In his speech marking the 24th anniversary of Independence on April 18, President Mugabe said Government was deeply concerned with the escalating cost of education which had the potential of undermining Zimbabwe's proud record as Africa's most literate society.

"Our principal goal of attaining education for all appears to be in real jeopardy with some schools charging as much as $10 million a term," the President said.

"Government will soon come up with arrangements which will continue to make education accessible to each and every child regardless of his status or family background."

Meanwhile, it was brisk business in central Harare yesterday as parents did their last-minute shopping in preparation for the second term.

The central business district was a hive of activity with some boarding school pupils making their way back to school, while some parents went from shop to shop searching for stationery, uniforms and groceries for their children to take to school.

Those parents whose children wear different uniforms in winter had a frustrating and tiring time as they failed to find the right sizes in many instances.

Affected private schools at a glance

• Harare
  Gateway Primary
  Gateway Secondary
  Chisipite Senior
  Arundel Girls
  Heritage Primary
  Heritage Secondary
  Bishopslea
  Tynwald High
  Ridgeview High
  Tynwald Primary
  St Michael Prep
  Eaglesvale Primary
  Eaglesvale High
  Hellenic Primary
  Sharon School
  Twin Rivers Primary
  Lusitania Primary
  Hartman House
  St George's College
  St John's Preparatory
  St John's College
• Bulawayo
  Camel
  Bulawayo Adventist Secondary
  Christian Brothers' College
  Petra High
  Petra Primary
  Masiyepambili Secondary
  Mashonaland Central
  Barwick Primary
• Mashonaland East
  Ariel Primary
  Lendy Park Primary
  Peterhouse Boys
  Peterhouse Girls
  Springvale House
  Ruzawi Primary
  Watershed College
• Mashonaland West
  Lomagundi College Primary
  Lomagundi College Secondary
  Rydings Primary
  Bryden Primary
  Lilfordia Primary
• Manicaland
  Hillcrest Primary
  Hillcrest Secondary
• Masvingo
  Kyle College
  South East College
• Matabeleland South
  Falcon College
  

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