On Tuesday pupils are returning to school for the third term, a very crucial term for those writing public examinations.
Grade Seven, Form Four and Six pupils will be sitting for their final examinations during this term hence the need to ensure there are no disruptions to their learning.
What this entails is that parents and guardians should ensure fees and other levies are paid on or before schools open.
Last year Government directed that parents and guardians should be allowed to pay fees in the currency of their choice because the country is operating under a multi-currency regime.
It said no school should force parents to pay fees or levies exclusively in forex.
Government also said parents should be free to buy uniforms where they are cheaper and as such school authorities should not force them to buy the uniforms at their schools.
Parents were advised to report defiant school authorities to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education inspectors or directly at the ministry’s offices.
Parents who are earning local currency should not be forced to buy forex at the black market in order to pay fees.
It is a fact that the forex at the black market is very expensive and as such schools should allow parents to pay fees in local currency.
When Government allowed schools to charge fees in forex, it made it very clear that parents should be given the option to pay the fees or levies in either forex or local currency.
Schools need adequate resources to enable them to provide quality education and as such parents and guardians should strive to pay the fees on time.
We want to once again remind school authorities that it is illegal to send pupils home for non-payment of fees.
In 2011, the Bulawayo High Court ruled that it is parents or guardians who undertake to pay all fees for their children when they bring them to school.
The school authorities should therefore take legal action against parents in the event of them failing to pay the fees.
Schools fees payment obligation is therefore a contract between a parent or guardian and the school concerned and not the child.
The High Court made it clear that it is improper to use children as pawns to enforce payment by either turning them away or withholding their examination results.
We are however aware that at some schools, although pupils are not sent home for non-payment of fees, they are not allowed to attend classes.
This is as good as sending pupils home and should not be allowed.
The disruption of pupils’ learning should be avoided as doing so is denying the children their right to education.
In a statement ahead of the start of this third term, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education once again emphasised that no eligible child should be denied the opportunity to attend school.
We therefore want to once again implore parents and guardians to ensure they meet their obligation of paying school fees on or before schools open while schools authorities on their part should avoid disrupting learning.
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